Sundgot-Borgen Christine, Mathisen Therese Fostervold, Torstveit Monica Klungland, Sundgot-Borgen Jorunn
Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Sognsveien 220, N-0806, Oslo, Norway.
Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4956, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
BMC Nutr. 2022 Feb 24;8(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s40795-022-00510-1.
Use of dietary supplements (DS) and muscle enhancing dietary supplements (MEDS) is frequent among students despite the lack of evidence of effects and health risks related to consumption. We need to increase our understanding of students' motivation, examine potential gender differences, and explore explanatory factors, to address preventive measures related to use. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the frequency of, and the reasons for, DS use among university students, as well as explanatory factors for use of MEDS.
Male and female students from nine Norwegian universities participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants responded to questions about demographics, DS and MEDS use, internalization of body ideals, physical activity- and exercise level, motives for exercise, and exercise context. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression were used to investigate between group differences, associations, and explanatory factors for use, respectively. P-values ≤ 0.05 were defined as significant.
A total of 1001 males (34%) and females, with a mean(sd) age of 24.21(4.76) years, participated. The frequency of DS use was 42% and 40% (p = .414) in males and females, respectively, in which more males than females used DS to improve physical or mental performance (p = < .001), increase muscle mass (p = < .001) and weight for health (p = .014), and improve appearance (p = < .001). In males and females, respectively, 25% and 10% used MEDS (p = < .001). In males, being a fitness center member (OR:3.80), exercising to improve muscle mass (OR:1.96), and a higher physical activity level (OR:1.09) positively explained MEDS use, while exercising to increase endurance (OR:0.49) and being an exercise science student (OR:0.47) negatively explained MEDS use. In females, internalizing the athletic body ideal (OR:1.78) and exercising to improve muscle mass (OR:1.74) positively explained MEDS use.
Our main findings indicate that a surprisingly high percentage of male and female Norwegian students use DS and MEDS, and that reasons for use, and variables explaining the variability in frequency of use, differ between genders. Longitudinal studies to investigate direction of associations are needed in future research.
尽管缺乏关于膳食补充剂（DS）及增强肌肉的膳食补充剂（MEDS）的功效及健康风险的证据，但学生中仍频繁使用这些产品。我们需要加深对学生使用动机的理解，研究潜在的性别差异，并探索相关解释因素，以制定与使用相关的预防措施。因此，本研究旨在探究大学生使用DS的频率、原因以及使用MEDS的解释因素。
来自挪威九所大学的男女学生参与了这项横断面研究。参与者回答了有关人口统计学、DS和MEDS使用情况、身体理想内化、身体活动和锻炼水平、锻炼动机以及锻炼环境等问题。分别使用独立样本t检验、卡方检验、皮尔逊相关性分析和逻辑回归来研究组间差异、关联性以及使用的解释因素。P值≤0.05被定义为具有统计学意义。
共有1001名男性（34%）和女性参与，平均（标准差）年龄为24.21（4.76）岁。男性和女性使用DS的频率分别为42%和40%（p = 0.414），其中使用DS来改善身体或心理表现（p < 0.001）、增加肌肉量（p < 0.001）、为健康增加体重（p = 0.014）以及改善外貌（p < 0.001）的男性多于女性。男性和女性使用MEDS的比例分别为25%和10%（p < 0.001）。在男性中，成为健身中心会员（OR：3.80）、为增加肌肉量而锻炼（OR：1.96）以及较高的身体活动水平（OR：1.09）对使用MEDS有正向解释作用，而为增加耐力而锻炼（OR：0.49）以及是运动科学专业学生（OR：0.47）对使用MEDS有负向解释作用。在女性中，将运动型身体理想内化（OR：1.78）以及为增加肌肉量而锻炼（OR：1.74）对使用MEDS有正向解释作用。
我们的主要研究结果表明，挪威男女学生使用DS和MEDS的比例高得出奇，且使用原因以及解释使用频率差异的变量在性别之间存在差异。未来研究需要进行纵向研究以调查关联性的方向。
