1. The Prevalence and Reasons for Sport Supplement Usage Among College Students Using Recreational Facilities Ben Sturz University of Idaho Leadership in Physical Activity and Recreation HPERD
Results and Discussion
Based upon the data collected concerning sport supplement usage, male subjects (81% of all subjects using sport supplements) using campus recreational facilities were significantly more likely to use sport supplements than female subjects (19% of all subjects using sport supplements). Furthermore, of all subjects surveyed, 53% have used sport supplements to increase sport and/or fitness performance in the last 30 days.
Of all reasons cited for the usage of sport supplements, the most common were to improve overall health (8.8%), to improve muscular power (7.9%), and to improve muscular strength (7.6%). Reasons that were cited in open ended responses included, “too look good,” “to not be sore,” and “to gain weight.”
Concerning relationships between physical activity practices and sport supplementation usage, users of sports supplements performed physical activity of any kind for at least 60 minutes on an average of 4.97 days/week, compared to non-users of sport supplements at 4.13 days/week. When considering relationships between the type of physical activity, either moderate or vigorous, 54 % of individuals who participated in vigorous physical activities also used sport supplements. Furthermore, 54% of individuals who participated in moderate physical activity used sport supplements as well.
Conclusions that can be drawn from the results of this study suggest that a majority of individuals that use campus recreational facilities also use sport supplements to increase their individual sport or fitness performance. Furthermore, males are significantly more likely to use sport supplements compared to females, and when considering activity types, those individuals that use sport supplement also perform more vigorous and more moderate intensity physical activities.
The results of this study can be used to help campus recreational facility staff and campus health and wellness staff to better understand the prevalence and reasons for sport supplement usage among college students using recreational facilities. Furthermore, this information can help campus staff members better educate the student population on sport supplements and sport supplement usage.
Abstract
The purpose of this observational study is to describe the prevalence and reasons for usage of sport supplements among college students using campus recreational facilities in a rural northwest university. IRB approved this study, and all participants gave informed consent. One hundred and forty seven participants (92 male and 54 female) completed a 21 question survey to determine usage patterns, substances used, and reasons for substance usage relating to the physical and/or mental improvements in physical activity. The survey revealed that 53% of participants (81% male and 19% female) used supplements to improve sport or fitness related performance. The most common supplement used were protein (13.6%), multi-vitamins (9.3%), and vitamin-C (8.8%). The most common reasons for supplement usage were to improve overall health (8.8%), to improve muscular power (7.9%), and to improve muscular strength (7.6%).
Program Faculty
S. Stoll; G. Goc-Karp; K. Johnston; T. Goetz; H. Cooke; E. Grindley
Methods
Participants for this study were college students in a rural northwest university. These participants used the campus’s student recreational facility at least once a week during the Spring 2010 semester, and during this time they performed at least one of the following activities: cardiovascular exercise, resistance training, rock climbing, group fitness, or other recreational activities. During a one week period in the Spring 2010 semester, participants were asked during times of convenience to answer voluntarily a survey to describe their personal supplement usage habits and patterns.
Permission for this study was granted by the Human Assurances Committee of the University of Idaho. All participants were informed about the purpose of this study and of their rights concerning participation in this study. Participants were provided with informed consent forms prior to participating in the survey, and were informed prior to participation that they can withdraw from the study at any time.
The survey used for this study was developed based on surveys and questionnaires used in the NHANES III, and consisted of 21 questions of which 8 were closed-ended questions and 13 were open-ended questions. The closed-ended questions provided specific data concerning demographic information, activity type, supplement usage habits and rates, and information regarding supplement types and reasons for supplement usage. Open-ended questions provided and refined individual specific data concerning the type(s) of supplement(s) used and the reason(s) for supplement usage, and supplement usage patterns.
 What Are Sport Supplements?
As defined by the FDA (2009), within the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA 1994), a dietary supplement is defined in section 3(a) of DSHEA 1994 as a product: …intended to supplement the diet that contains one or more of the following ingredients: a vitamin; mineral; herb or other botanical; an amino acid; a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any ingredient described above….”
Furthermore, the FDA(2009) allows for both the use of structure-function claims in advertising dietary supplements, and for the use of dietary ingredients and food additives in dietary supplements without being generally recognized as safe. Based upon this definition there are now countless products being sold as dietary supplements that make claims toward specific functions, and use ingredients that have not been deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration (Onel, 2005).
Sports supplements, which exist within the realm of dietary supplements, are the specific focus of this observational study. For the purpose of this study, sport supplements will be defined as any supplement taken for the perceived or experienced effect of improving physical or mental ability with relation to fitness and sport, or to improve physical appearance and/or body composition. Reviews of literature concerning dietary supplements do not specifically mention or account for sport supplements as a sub group of dietary supplements. However, literature reviews do reveal that the term sport supplement is used regularly (Baume, Hellemans & Saugy, 2007; Housman & Dorman, 2008; Juhn, 2003; Young, & Stephens, 2009). Unfortunately, within these studies and articles the term sport supplement is not specifically defined and is commonly used as a simple descriptor of supplements consumed by athletes or those competing and/or training for sporting events (Baume, Hellemans & Saugy, 2007; Housman & Dorman, 2008; Juhn, 2003; Young, & Stephens, 2009). Consequently, sports supplements will be considered a new sub group of dietary supplements for this study.