ABSTRACT
Background: Dietary supplements (DSs) are widely used in gymnastics around the world to improve health, save energy and increase strength. However, consumers should be familiar with the required knowledge regarding the benefits and risks of these supplements. Objective: To assess the perception and prevalence of dietary supplements among Gymnastics users in the city of Nasiriyah. Material and methods: The study was a pilot descriptive cross-sectional survey of 150 Gymnastics both males (n = 75) and females (n = 75). The data were statistically analyzed and a “p value ≤ 0.05” was taken as statistically significant. Results: Participants Socio-demographic characteristics varied widely and were shown to be related to DSs information sources, purpose of use and beliefs. The coaches were the main source of information for males and the internet for females. Males generally use DSs for Bodybuilding, while females mostly use DSs for weight loss. Gymnastics consumed between 1-2 types of DSs with less consumption of three or more. Electrolyte drink, amino acids, vitamin D, calcium, Red Bull or similar, Omega-3, and slimming products were among the most common DSs. Weight gain, ephedra, and anabolic hormones were less often used. Conclusion: The majority of dietary supplement information was received from unreliable sources. The purpose of using DSs differed greatly between males and females and was related to social and demographic factors. The impact of Covid-19 has limited the size of our participants and more research is needed on wider sample of gymnastics after the pandemic to get a better understanding of the use of DSs and their potential impact on health. © 2021 by authors, all rights reserved.