Protein supplement users among high school athletes have misconceptions about effectiveness.

Area of Science:

• Sports Nutrition
• Dietary Supplements
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Athletes require increased protein intake for muscle protein synthesis.
• Protein supplements are widely used by athletes for performance enhancement.
• The necessity and effectiveness of protein supplements over whole foods remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate misconceptions about protein supplement effectiveness among high school football players.
• To identify the relationship between protein supplement use and the level of misconceptions.
• To explore the influence of information sources on these misconceptions.

Main Methods:

• A survey questionnaire was administered to high school football players.
• The Protein Supplement Misconceptions Index was used to measure misconceptions.
• Statistical analysis, including t-tests and Bonferroni post hoc tests, was performed.

Main Results:

• Protein supplement users exhibited significantly higher misconception scores than non-users.
• Supplement users were more likely to believe supplements are essential for muscle gain.
• Coaches, parents, and friends were primary advice sources for supplement users, correlating with higher misconceptions.

Conclusions:

• Misconceptions about protein supplements are prevalent among young athletes, particularly supplement users.
• Dietary protein sources appear as effective as supplements for muscle protein synthesis.
• Targeted nutrition education for athletes and their influencers is crucial to correct these misconceptions.