Dietary Supplement Consumption and Micronutrient Intake Status in Bodybuilders

Little information is available about micronutrients intake in bodybuilding athletes taking supplements. This study aimed at investigating dietary supplements usage and micronutrients intake in male and female bodybuilders.

This cross-sectional study was performed among bodybuilders in bodybuilding clubs in Shiraz. Information about consumption of dietary supplements were collected using a questionnaire and Food Frequency Questionnaire (168 items) was completed to assess the micronutrients intake based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).

The participants (n= 270) included 175 (64.8%) males (mean age: 33.6±2.5 years). In this study, 115 (65%) males and 45 (47%) females used dietary supplements. The study showed a significant difference in the rate of supplement use based on gender (P<0.000), age group (P<0.006), and level of education (P<0.001). Furthermore, bodybuilding trainers were the major source of dietary education (62.4%), while nutritionists and physicians accounted for nutritional advice to only 17.4% of the participants. Findings indicated low micronutrients (vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and zinc) intake in male athletes based on RDA. There was also low intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B9, calcium, iron, and magnesium in female athletes.

Prevalence of supplement use was high in male and female bodybuilders, however, they suffer from low intake of micronutrients.