Analysis of the dietary supplement consumption profile in Brazilian athletes subjected to doping control between 2015 and 2022

Abstract

The consumption of dietary supplements (DS) has increased considerably, and despite the potential performance benefits, the occurrence of contaminated DS exposes athletes to risks in doping controls. This study aimed to analyse DS consumption among Brazilian athletes from the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, considering gender, the consumption period (in or out of competition), and the number of supplements reported as consumed from 2015 to 2022. To this end, all Doping Control Forms within the aforementioned period were reviewed. DS consumption had a prevalence of 71.54%, with a result of 4.47± 3.35 (mean±SD) among these athletes. Women reported higher usage than men. The number of DS consumed was higher in the Olympic years. Additionally, while out-of-competition consumption was less prevalent, it involved a greater number of DS. Excessive DS consumption was evident, with 7.68% reporting the use of more than 10 DS (among those athletes who use at least one DS). No significant differences were observed between Olympic and Paralympic athletes. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted educational strategies to promote the responsible use of DS, reduce doping risks, and encourage further research to explore gender-specific consumption patterns and variations across competition periods.