[Relationship between consumption of sports supplements and addiction to sport in road and mountain runners].

Introduction

sports nutrition and supplementation (SD) are commonly used by road and mountain runners to achieve their goals and increased performance. However, sometimes sports practice can become an obsession and/or addiction, although the literature on the use of DS and sports addiction (SD) is scarce.

Objective

to describe and analyse the relationship between SD use and AD in asphalt and mountain runners in the Canary Islands. Methodology: a cross-sectional observational study in a sample of 613 adult athletes, using a self-administered online questionnaire that assessed SD use and AD, disseminated by federations, sports clubs, race organisers and social networks.

Results

75.7 % of participants reported taking some form of SD and being younger was associated with a higher likelihood of taking SD. On the total SD scale (SAS-15) the mean was 9.19 (SD = 3.24), above the midpoint of the theoretical range (0-15). Among participants taking and not taking DS, there is higher AD in those taking versus those not; and among those taking DS, AD is significantly higher in those taking weight management recoverers and supplements.

Conclusions

the sample had indicators of WD and, for the most part, were consuming some form of DS. In addition, there is a significant relationship between the use of DS and WD in road and mountain runners, with the level of WD being a predictor of DS consumption.