Was investigated ergogenic aids (EAs) used by Brazilian athletes and their association with performance, sex, sports classification, and modality. It identified the main purposes of EAs and their prescription.
Methods: 239 athletes of 15 modalities, ranging from regional to international level, answered a survey online.
Results: Highly competitive athletes consumed nutritional and mechanical aids more (OR = 1.96 CI 95% [1.28-2.9]; OR = 1.79 CI 95% [1.29-2.47]), while the use of psychological EAs decreased [OR = 1.66 95% CI (1.18-2.94); p = 0.001]. Male athletes [OR = 1.44 CI 95% (1.11-2.88)] and individual sports practitioners [OR = 1.78 CI 95% (1.02-3.11)] used nutritional aids more. Triathlon athletes had higher nutritional EA use, while soccer athletes had lower. Combat sports athletes had higher pharmacological EA use.
Conclusion: Athletes use nutritional and pharmacological aids more to improve performance and gain lean body mass. Mechanical aids were used for recovery and psychological aids for motivation. Self-prescription is common, especially for pharmacological aids.
Keywords: athletes; athletic performance; ergogenic substance; exercise; sports.
© 2023 de Oliveira, de Souza, Meireles, dos Santos, Leite, Ferreira and Marocolo.