National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Evaluation of Dietary Supplements for Athlete Safety and Performance.

OBJECTIVES

To (1) support athletic trainers (ATs) as they help athletes and other active individuals navigate dietary supplement use while prioritizing health, safety, legality, performance, and a food-first but not always food-only approach and (2) ensure that ATs have the reliable resources they need to provide general education and evaluate the use of dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND

While the market continues to expand, the quality of dietary supplements worldwide is poorly regulated. At the same time, many active individuals report consuming multiple dietary supplements to improve health or performance or both. Athletic trainers are well positioned to proactively educate athletes on concerns that arise with taking dietary supplements. In many cases, the AT is the first health care professional asked to review the safety, effectiveness, and legality of a dietary supplement that an athlete is consuming. Our mission with this position statement is to provide ATs with the tools and resources needed to educate tactical operators and tactical athletes and to know when to refer the individual to a Sports Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics.

RECOMMENDATIONS: An individual's overall dietary pattern and habits should be considered first, but we encourage a food-first but not always food-only approach to dietary supplement education and review. The AT should use reliable resources to understand the risks and benefits of using dietary supplements.