Browse the evidence

69.2% of powerlifters reported intraexercise nutrition strategies, primarily ingesting more carbohydrate rich foods.

Encourage powerlifters to consume carbohydrates during training to enhance performance.

Professional bodybuilders (PROs) reported significantly more kcal/day at the start of preparation and weight at the middle than amateur bodybuilders (AMAs).

Practitioners should consider the higher caloric needs of professional bodybuilders during precontest preparation.

PROs perceived higher carbohydrate intake and used more carbohydrate supplements compared to AMAs.

Coaches should emphasize carbohydrate intake and supplementation for professional bodybuilders.

Nutritional strategies, including specific supplements and dietary patterns, can improve physical performance and muscle quality in older adults, sometimes even without concurrent exercise.

Consider nutritional interventions, such as adequate protein intake and specific supplements (like B-vitamins or novel formulas), to support muscle function, especially if you are at risk of undernutrition or cannot exercise.

CrossFit practitioners exhibit a high prevalence (77.7%) of dietary supplement use, primarily whey protein and creatine, driven by goals of performance enhancement and muscle hypertrophy, yet often lack professional nutritional guidance.

If you do CrossFit, you are likely taking supplements, most commonly whey protein or creatine. The main reasons people take them are to build muscle and improve workout performance. However, a majority of users do this without professional advice. To ensure safety and efficacy, consider consulting a sports nutritionist or physician to verify that your supplement choices and dosages align with your specific training intensity and health goals.

CrossFit practitioners who use supplements primarily target performance enhancement and muscle hypertrophy, with whey protein and creatine being the most frequently used substances, despite a lack of scientific consensus supporting their specific necessity for all practitioners.

Most CrossFit users take whey protein or creatine to build muscle or perform better. While these are common and generally safe, they are not strictly necessary for everyone. Focus on your training and whole-food nutrition first; use supplements only if they fill a specific gap or support a specific goal you have discussed with a professional.

In people living with HIV (PLWH), systemic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by antiretroviral therapy (ART) increase the susceptibility to sarcopenia.

For PLWH, maintaining muscle mass requires addressing the underlying inflammatory and metabolic environment created by HIV and ART, not just eating protein. Regular exercise and managing metabolic health are key.

Low adherence to the Mediterranean diet could be associated with insufficient knowledge regarding its composition and health effects.

Improving knowledge about the Mediterranean diet may enhance adherence among the population.

Micronutrient dense variety is positively associated with mean micronutrient intake, while energy-dense variety has a weak association.

Emphasizing micronutrient dense foods in dietary recommendations may enhance nutrient intake.

Whey protein was the predominantly used supplement among female gym users, accounting for 57.8% of usage.

Practitioners should note that whey protein is the most commonly used supplement among this population.

The main reason attributed to the use of protein supplements among female gym users was muscle building, with 53.9% citing this reason.

Practitioners should focus on muscle building as a key motivation for protein supplement use among female gym users.

Hypertension is associated with urban living, older age, insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, and low physical activity.

Public health initiatives should address these risk factors to manage hypertension.

Diabetes is associated with urban residence, older age, low fruit and vegetable consumption, high salt intake, and low physical activity.

Strategies to reduce diabetes risk should focus on dietary improvements and physical activity.

Higher knowledge of macronutrients and positive attitudes toward basic nutrition are significantly associated with lower Body Mass Index (BMI) in student-athletes, whereas nutritional practices do not significantly affect BMI distribution.

For student-athletes, improving your understanding of macronutrients and fostering a positive attitude toward nutrition (like hydration and healthy food) is statistically linked to a healthier BMI, even if your actual daily eating habits aren't perfect. Prioritize education and mindset shifts alongside your training.

Attitudes toward basic nutrition have a statistically significant but weak impact on BMI distribution, with a beta coefficient of -0.153 and a p-value of 0.007.

Having a positive attitude toward nutrition (e.g., valuing hydration and healthy food) is weakly linked to lower BMI. While important, attitude alone is not a strong predictor of weight status.

Among vegan dieters, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is associated with reduced odds of inadequate protein intake, whereas higher consumption of unprocessed/minimally processed foods (UMPF) is associated with increased odds of inadequate protein intake.

If you are vegan, do not strictly avoid all ultra-processed foods (UPF) if it compromises your protein intake. This study found that vegans who consumed more UPF (like textured soy protein or supplements) were much less likely to have inadequate protein intake compared to those who ate mostly unprocessed foods. To ensure you get enough protein, consider including protein supplements or textured soy products, as unprocessed plant proteins alone may require impractical volumes to meet requirements.

Bodybuilders who consume dietary supplements primarily rely on trainers and nutritionists for information sources rather than medical doctors, leading to the use of common supplements like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Whey protein.

If you are a bodybuilder, be aware that your supplement choices are heavily influenced by your trainer and nutritionist. Ensure these sources are well-informed about the latest research, as they are your primary information channel. Common supplements like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Whey protein are widely used, but verify their necessity and dosage with a qualified professional.

Bodybuilders who consume dietary supplements report side effects such as skin rashes, increased liver enzymes, and hair loss.

Be vigilant about potential side effects from dietary supplements. If you experience skin rashes, increased liver enzymes, or hair loss, consider stopping the supplement and consulting a healthcare provider. Regular health check-ups can help detect these issues early.

Bodybuilders who consume dietary supplements do so primarily to increase performance, meet increased nutritional needs from exercise, and prevent injury/improve recovery.

If you are using supplements to enhance performance or meet nutritional needs, ensure you are also focusing on proper training, nutrition, and recovery. Supplements should complement, not replace, these foundational habits.

Resistance-trained males failed to meet carbohydrate intake recommendations on average.

Practitioners should ensure that resistance-trained individuals are meeting carbohydrate intake recommendations.

The PEN approach resulted in high compliance to daily energy and macronutrient intakes among resistance-trained males.

Implementing the PEN approach can enhance dietary compliance in resistance training populations.

Endurance-trained males tended to reduce carbohydrate intake before the first endurance training of the day.

Endurance athletes may need guidance on carbohydrate intake timing to optimize performance.

68% of participants showed good knowledge and attitudes about protein supplement use.

This indicates a need for continued education and support for protein supplement use among gym users.

67.2% of respondents had used ergogenic supplements, primarily whey protein for muscle enhancement.

Fitness professionals should be aware of the high prevalence of supplement use among gym members and the need for guidance.