The consumption of supplements by sportsmen: a systematic review of literature

Abstract

   Introduction: A varied and energetically adequate diet is able to provide the appropriate amounts of all the essential nutrients. However, many sportsmen take food supplements without consulting a health professional and without the exact knowledge of it´s possible benefits. Objective: To present a systematic review of literature on the prevalence and main types of dietary supplements consumed by sportsmen and to understand the main sources of indication and reasons for the use of nutritional supplements. Material and Methods: A bibliographical research was performed on the databases PubMed and Web of Science. In this context, all available publications that met the inclusion criteria between January 2007 and February 2018 were included being selected 14 articles out of 1054. Results: The prevalence of the use of supplements varied between 13.3% and 100%, determining that the articles included in their samples merely professional athletes the prevalence of the consumption of nutritional supplements varied from 46.2% to 90.9%. Most consumed supplements were protein supplements, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Further, it was also found that sportsmen seek information about the consumption with nutritionists, self-prescription, friends, coach and personal trainer. The main motifs for its ingestion relates to an enhanced performance in the sport and maintain their health. Conclusion: The data reveals a broad range of variation is the use of supplements by sportsmen. It is paramount to promote nutritional education programs for sportsmen; (...).