According to recent market analysis, revenue generated from global sports supplement market is estimated at USD 13321 Mn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 24698 Mn by end of 2033. Dietary supplements are used by athletes at all levels of sport, reflecting this much prevalence of their use in the wider society. Athletes describe a range of different reasons for their supplement choices that include the maintenance of good health, the management of micronutrient deficiencies, and the provision of energy and macronutrient needs during training etc. Other specific uses of supplements reported by athletes include direct or indirect performance enhancement that arise from the provision of support for hard training, the manipulation of physique, rapid recovery from injury and enhancement of mood.

The usage rate of supplements among athletes usually varies from 40% to nearly 100% and higher prevalence observed in regular gym going population. Differences and heterogeneity in the use of supplements among and within nations dependant on local factors like national legislation, diets, socio-economic level, and exercise culture etc. Among the individual supplements most commonly consumed are whey protein (30.2%), sports drinks (28.6%), creatine monohydrate (28.6%), sports bars (27.8%), and caffeine (27.8%).

However, there is a limited body of scientific research on their safety, quality, and effectiveness of these products. Today, excessive consumption of supplements is a prevalent social issue that can lead to health problems and poor performance for athletes. Some supplements may have adverse health effects, such as a significant number of cardiovascular and central nervous system complications, liver disease, and pancreatitis. Products are often removed from the market only after the occurrence of a significant number of damaging events. Unfortunately, athletes rarely seek information from knowledgeable sources, such as sports medicine specialists or sports nutritionists. Furthermore, awareness programs on this subject are not available in every country, specially in developing countries. This leaves athletes vulnerable to misinformation which can lead to consumption of illegal substances and “inadvertent doping” due to their prohibited components. A latest report on studies from 12 countries focused on dietary supplements used in sports, found a contamination rate of 12% to 58%.

Dietary supplements are an established part of the landscape of modern sport and are likely to remain so. However, it takes considerable effort and expert analysis to identify which products are appropriate, how to integrate them into the athlete’s sports nutrition plan, and how to ensure that any benefits outweigh the possible negative side effects, including the potential for an inadvertent doping. Athletes should understand that it’s their responsibility to use supplements only after a careful risk-benefit analysis has been conducted.