The purpose of this study was to examine the types of supplements used, reasons for use, information sources and behavior patterns associated with sports supplement use.
Significance: Published research focusing on sports supplements marketed as having ergogenic qualities (i.e., to improve physical capacity), has increased over the past several years, but has focused primarily on athletic populations. Most studies have examined variables such as prevalence, reasons, and information sources regarding sports supplements; however, few have explored health risk behaviors in relation to the above factors. Little research exists that defines the relationship between the use of sports supplements and other health risk behaviors such as binge drinking, smoking, illegal drug use, and promiscuity.
Design: Data from a representative sample of 541 college students were obtained from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment. Those involved in the administration of the instrument were trained prior to data collection. All participants were informed of the purpose of the study and that their participation was voluntary. Participants also were assured anonymity with their responses and participants responded on computer-scanned answer sheets. Frequency of sports supplement use was identified as the dependent variable. The study included the following independent variables: physical fighting, smoking, binge drinking, sexual activity, gender, year in school, and athletic status.
Results: Descriptive analyses revealed that creatine was used most frequently (11.7%). The most popular reason listed for use was to gain muscle size (48.5%), and the most popular information source was friends (25.5%). The odds ratio (OR) showed that males or individuals who had been in a physical fight in the last year had more than double the odds (OR = 2.41) of using sports supplements. According to past research, ergogenic supplement users have been found to be more likely to drink heavily, ride in a car with someone who has been drinking, drive after drinking, and to be in a physical fight. A similar pattern of behavior has been linked to those individuals who participate in anabolic steroid use. Past research has shown a link between steroid use behaviors such as driving and drinking alcohol, fighting, and carrying a weapon. The cause-and-effect relationship between both sports supplements and other health behavior patterns is still unknown. If a relationship is defined, it can create opportunities for preventative counseling, educational program development, and high-risk behavior screening.