Sport supplement use among high school rugby players in South Africa: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: The use of sport supplements has increased for all types and levels of sport, with an estimated increase of 5.8% annually. Sport supplement usage and doping among high school athletes has increased over the years to meet the demands of the sports. Objective: This scoping review identifies the trends and gaps in current literature regarding sport supplement use among high school rugby players in South Africa. Methods: A search was conducted using six electronic databases, namely Oxford Academic, Emerald Publishing, ResearchGate, SABINET, PubMed and Google Scholar. The eligibility of the articles was determined by means of a PRISMA flow diagram with the following inclusion criteria: (1) research concerning supplement use among rugby players, (2) research concerning supplement use among high school rugby players. Five articles all comprising of cross-sectional study designs were included in this scoping review. Results: The prevalence of sport supplement use among adolescent rugby players ranged from 30% to 45%. Protein supplements (31% – 79%) were the most commonly identified supplement used among adolescent rugby players with the aim to improve sport performance as the most common reason for use. The internet (74%) and magazines (72%), followed by coaches comments (28% to 30%), were given as the most common sources of information. Conclusion: The use of sport supplements is increasing among high school athletes due to the belief that these substances will provide sporting performance benefits or enhance the competitive ‘edge’ of these athletes. Additional education regarding the safety of supplements is necessary to lower the incidences of doping among young athletes and avoid the adverse health effects that uncontrolled supplement use can cause.

Protein and Leucine Requirements for Maximal Muscular Development and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Modeled to Meet Energy Needs in Adult Male Rugby Players

“…These protein intakes and the values modeled in the present study reside within the range reported in surveys of the dietary intakes of rugby players, which indicate mean protein intakes of 1.02-2.59 g/kg [8,10,22,23,72,77]. These values may reflect larger intakes of protein supplements, the use of which is prevalent among rugby players [71,[78][79][80]. In contrast, dietary data modeled from the AHS-2 cohort included limited capture of meal replacement drinks and protein supplements, where the top reported sources of protein included legumes, grains, and other whole plant foods [81].…”

Identification of pre-determined steroids in commercially available dietary and traditional supplement products in South Africa

“…[3] The work of Nicholls et al (2017) [15] showed that those who consumed dietary supplements reported a stronger intention to dope, more favourable doping attitudes and beliefs about PEDs, in comparison with non-supplement users. [15] Whilst people who exercise, who use dietary supplements to enhance bodily appearance, muscle gain, strength, and physical performance, [10,31,32] there is evidently a lack of awareness on the bene ts, and side-effects of dietary supplements. [6, 10] The work of Kicman (2008) [3] provides evidence of the behavioural effects of androgens anabolic steroids (AAS) in men and women, including those concerning sexual behaviour, cognitive abilities, aggression, and mood.…”

Dietary supplements and beverages: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among semi-professional soccer players in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…A similar knowledge gap was reported in a recent scoping review on non-professional players, especially with regard to the health risks associated with consuming supplements. [ 19 ] Furthermore, most players had limited to no knowledge about anti-doping agencies, such as SAIDS and WADA. Lack of proper guidance on the risks associated with supplements increases the risk of doping and its adverse effects on the athletes’ health.…”