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Influence of different categories of supplements on the body composition of resistance-training practitioners
Patrícia Molz1, Thalia Gama da Silva2, Diene da Silva Schlickmann3
1Graduate Program in Health Promotion, Department of Health Science, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil; Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, Department of Health Science, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre School of Medicine, Brazil.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different categories of dietary supplements on the body composition of resistance-training practitioners.
Methods:
Participants of both sexes and ages 20 to 59 y participated in this cross-sectional study. The use of dietary supplements was investigated and classified into three categories: sports foods, medical supplements, and ergogenic supplements. One-way analysis of covariance adjusted for age, type of exercise, frequency of exercise, total amount of daily exercise, and exercise intensity was used in the analysis.
Results:
Of 427 participants, 278 (65%), were supplement consumers. Women who consumed sports foods had higher percentages of skeletal muscle (P = 0.014) and lower percentages of body fat than women who did not take supplements (P = 0.031). Furthermore, women who used medicinal supplements had greater visceral fat levels than women who did not (P = 0.019). No significant differences were found between type of supplement used and body composition among men (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Consuming sports foods was associated with higher percentages of skeletal muscle and lower percentages of body fat; women who used medical supplements had higher visceral fat levels.
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