Scheduled for RCB Poster Session I, Thursday, April 14, 2005, 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Area II


Assessment of Nutritional Supplement Use in Division III College Athletes

Susan Massad, Framingham State College, Framingham, MA

Americans spend an estimated $1.4 billion annually on sports nutrition supplements. This study utilized a nutritional supplement use and knowledge scale to assess the extent to which NCAA Division III athletes use sports nutrition supplements, and their degree of knowledge about supplements. Our sample had a relatively low level of supplement use and relatively little knowledge. Men had a significantly higher rate of supplements use than women (z = -2.76, p < .01). There was no significant difference between men and women’s knowledge about supplements. When narrowed down to the 3 supplements listed in Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Healthy Competition Foundation’s educational advisory on potentially dangerous sports supplements (ephedra, androstenedione, creatine), weekly to daily use reported by our athletes indicated some attraction for these 3 supplements (e.g. 35.9% of males indicated weekly to daily use of creatine). This survey would benefit health educators and researchers who wish to investigate the most popular nutritional supplements, most commonly held beliefs about supplements, the relationship between supplement use and knowledge, and differences between use and knowledge by and specific sports teams and various NCAA divisions.

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