Analysis of health claims regarding creatine monohydrate present in commercial communications for a sample of European sports foods supplements

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the information on health claims present in the labelling of creatine monohydrate (CM) products. Design: A descriptive study of a selection of products marketed as CM, with health claims, and that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, was conducted using the Amazon and Google Shopping websites. The adequacy and compliance of the health claims were evaluated with the European legislative requirements (European Food Safety Authority and European Commission). The results were discussed with scientific evidence criteria from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Olympic Committee, and International Society of Sports Nutrition, as well as the systematic review carried out by Mielgo-Ayuso in 2019. Setting: Health claims in the commercial communications of a sample of CM supplements, in relation to current legislation and scientific knowledge. Participant: A total of 554 CM products were obtained. Results: Of the total sample, only 167 met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Of these, 30·5 % recommended a CM dose of 5·0–5·9 g/d, while 29·9 % recommended 3·0 to 3·9 g/d. As for the health claims, ‘Enhances physical performance’ appeared in 73·1 % of the supplements, in most cases referring to a dosage of 3·0 to 3·9 g/d for these products. The rest of the declarations were not adequate or needed to be modified. Conclusion: Only 25 % of the health claims complied with the criteria established by the scientific reference documents. Most of the declarations must be modified or eliminated, as they could be considered fraudulent and/or misleading for the consumer.

Sports foods are not all they shake up to be. An audit of formulated supplementary sports food products and packaging in Australian retail environments

“…This study identified a high level of variation in the dominant nutrients between each sports food category, such as protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, and dietary fibre, as has been found by other analytical studies ( 22 , 40 ). This variation may be due to manufacturer determined serving size and recommended serves per day, as well as to the form of the product (e.g., powder, liquid, or bar).…”

“…The findings also create doubt regarding the accuracy of all nutrition levels provided, the ingredients included and of the veracity of claims displayed on-pack. Analytical studies of claims relating to single ingredients in selected sports foods, concluded similarly that most of the claims made should be either modified or eliminated and could be misleading consumers ( 40 ).…”

Health Claims for Sports Drinks—Analytical Assessment according to European Food Safety Authority’s Scientific Opinion

“…As can be seen, product advertising does not always correctly refer to the effects of a particular food. Food fraud can be found in various forms in advertising, consumer information, and marketing of sports supplements, also observed in the study on the analytical assessment of health claims related to caffeine dosage in the labelling of sports supplements [47] and the study on health claims relating to creatine monohydrate [48].…”

A Cross-Sectional Study of Sports Food Consumption Patterns, Experiences, and Perceptions amongst Non-Athletes in Australia

“…This lack of accurate information also calls into question the accuracy of nutrition content claims and general-level health claims, both of which are dependent on the stated nutrient information [ 12 , 17 , 18 ] and are important in consumer food-choice decisions [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Non-athletes, who may not have the benefits of dietetic guidance like athletes, could be consuming multiple sports food products using inaccurate packaging information and relying on nutrition claims that do not truly reflect the food item being considered [ 23 , 24 ], leading to overconsumption risks, potential side effects, and overall poor health outcomes. Therefore, it is important to examine the contemporary situation of the factors influencing consumption, including the role of packaging information, risk perception, and experiences of side effects.…”