Knowledge, Prevalence, and Consequences of Dietary Supplements Intake Among Iranian Bodybuilders

The study on 160 Iranian bodybuilders found that dietary supplements (DS), particularly vitamins C, D, and whey protein, are widely used, with 56.25% of participants regularly consuming them. The primary motivations for DS use were performance enhancement and increased exercise demands, while non-use was often due to a belief in a balanced diet's sufficiency and health risk concerns. Despite moderate nutritional knowledge, many bodybuilders experienced side effects such as skin rashes, increased liver enzymes, and hair loss. The study identified significant relationships between DS use and factors like gender, bodybuilding history, and exercise frequency, but not with age or education. It underscores the need for improved nutritional education and regulation to mitigate health risks associated with unsupervised DS use.