AUTHOR=de Oliveira Géssyca T. , de Souza Hiago L. R. , Meireles Anderson , dos Santos Marcelo P. , Leite Laura H. R. , Ferreira Renato M. , Marocolo Moacir 

TITLE=Use of ergogenic aids among Brazilian athletes: a cross-sectional study exploring competitive level, sex and sports

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 5 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1257007

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2023.1257007

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=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 CI95% [1.28-2.9]; OR=1.79 CI95% [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 CI95% [1.11-2.88]) and individual sports practitioners ) 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.