An Examination of Dietary Supplement Use amongst Those Who Exercise Routinel

The purpose of this study was to elicit a better understanding of the prevalence of dietary supplement use among the general population in comparison to a survey amongst individuals that are active gym or fitness center participants. This study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of regular gym users in comparison to dietary supplement use found in the literature among the general population. There were 203 participants who responded to an ISSN Facebook posting; however, only 164 participants (80.79%) agreed to participate in the study after reviewing the Informed Consent. Thirty-nine (39) participants (19.21%) declined to participate in the study and did not consent to participate in the study. Another (90) participants (44%) were removed from the data set because they didn't meet the inclusion criteria resulting in an N of 74. All participants took the surveys through a third-party system (Survey Monkey). A Chi Square Goodness of Fit test was conducted to compare the current study with NHANES III (2006). It was concluded that the usage of supplements in this study sample exceeds the NHANES III (2006) study. This study has demonstrated that exercising individuals consume greater amounts of dietary supplements as compared to non-exercising individuals and that exercise level might be a predictive tool for assessment of dietary supplement use. No statistical significant differences were found in supplement use: across gender, income levels, and USA geographical regions. This research has extended the existing scientific knowledge by contributing to the understanding of dietary supplement usage among different populations. Future research should examine how particular activities and sports influence dietary supplement consumption.