The increase in the number of fitness centers in the city of São Paulo, together with the increase in the offering of different supplements, has raised interest in the study of the consumption of supplements among fitness center users. The consumption of supplements by the general public has not been well quantified yet, and little information has been published about this subject. The arrival of new supplements in the market place has been faster than the creation of regulations and the accomplishment of researches proving their effects and determining the safety for their long-term use. In a sample of 309 users from seven fitness centers in São Paulo in 1999, 74 (23.9%) used at least one type of supplement, 77,0% of whom were male and 23,0% were female. The most consumed supplements were amino acids or other proteic products (38.9%), and the daily intake was the most mentioned consumption frequency (90.3%). The correlation between money expenditure with supplement and individual income was 27.5% (p = 0.0483; n = 52), and the expenses were greater among men; the correlation with family income was 36.1% (p = 0.0137; n = 46) and with Body Mass Index it was to 17.1% (p = 0.1564; n = 70). The conclusion was that the consumption of supplements is significant in the evaluated group, showing the need for more studies about the consumption of these products and their effects, focusing on nutrition education approaches in order to increase the level of information about them and to guarantee the safety of their use.
sports nutrition; amino acids; dietary supplements; fitness centers; nutrition education
