Perfil del consumidor de suplementos dietéticos en usuarios habituales de centros de acondicionamiento físico

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the profile of dietary supplements consumer´s in regular users of Centers for Physical Conditioning (CAF), according to social, demographic and anthropometric characteristics and those of products consumption. Methods: An observational descriptive and cross sectional study was carried out with 10 CAF from Valle de Aburra, Colombia. Male and female participants with permanence " 3 months in CAF were included in this study if they gave their informant consent. A questionnaire was used to fill out information. A descriptive analysis was made, including absolute and relative frequency measures; central tendency and variation. Results: A total of 321 active users participated, the average age of participants was 31 years (SD=13.8); and the women were the most (56%). Consumption of dietary supplements was observed in 28.7% of users. This percentage in younger persons was 33%, whereas in queried adults was 28%. According to BMI (Body Mass Index), 6.6% of consumers had a lower weight compared to normal, 69.6% had normal weight, 22.8% had higher weight and only one person was obese. Commercial trade of dietary supplements was known by 68.5% of consumers. These supplements contained more than one compound registered as nutritional (63%), herbal (22.8%), psycho stimulant (6.5%) and neither one had hormonal compounds. Conclusion: The findings of this study support a high consumption of dietary supplements in young people as well as in adults, and they establish the need to set control measures to avoid products abuse.