Nutritional knowledge of Jordanian sports supplement users: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v82.119095Keywords:
Athletes, Jordan, nutrition knowledge, sports nutrition, sports supplementsAbstract
Introduction: Adequate nutrition knowledge is essential for informed dietary supplement use and safe sports nutrition practices. This study assessed nutrition knowledge, supplement use patterns, and factors influencing supplement intake among Jordanian dietary supplement users.
Methods: A cross-sectional study included 400 dietary supplement users from four Jordanian governorates. Data were collected using the validated Arabic Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire and a survey on supplement use and sociodemographic characteristics.
Results: Whey protein (49.8%) and creatine (27.3%) were the most commonly used supplements, primarily for muscle gain. Most participants demonstrated poor general nutrition knowledge (39.4%) and poor sports nutrition knowledge (81.0%), with only 3.0% achieving a good sports nutrition knowledge score. Higher nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with age, education, income, and smoking status, while sports nutrition knowledge was also associated with sex.
Conclusions: Jordanian dietary supplement users demonstrated limited sports nutrition knowledge despite widespread supplement use. Targeted nutrition education is needed to promote evidence-based supplement practices.
References
Al-Quran, M., Muhamad, A. S., Ahmad, N. S., & Ooi, F. K. (2023). Sports nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice among male gymnasium users in Jordan. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, 29(3), 431.
Amawi, A. T., AbuAwad, B., Alshuwaier, G. O., Alnuaim, A. A., Bursais, A. K., & Alaqil, A. I. (2022). Understanding the Sport-Nutrition Knowledge and Practices among Jordanian Olympic Preparation Program’s Athletes and Coaches for TOKYO2020 Olympic Games. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 10(3), 567-573.
Balaravi, B., Chin, M., Karppaya, H., Chai, W., Quah, L. S., & Ramadas, A. (2017). Knowledge and attitude related to nutritional supplements and risk of doping among national elite athletes in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, 23(3), 409-423.
Basheer, H. A., Elsalem, L., Jaber, D., Ibraheem, S. M., & Alhamad, H. (2021). Knowledge, awareness and practices regarding dietary supplements in Jordan. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 20(3), 649.
Condo, D., Lohman, Rachel.,Kelly, Monica.,Carr, Amelia. (2019). Nutritional Intake, Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Energy Availability in Female Australian Rules Football Players. Nutrients, 11(5), 971. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11050971
Department of Statistics (DoS), J. (2024). Estimated Population of the Kingdom by Governorate, Locality, Sex and Household. Retrieved 7 July from https://dosweb.dos.gov.jo/population/population-2/
Elsahoryi, N. A., Odeh, M. M., Jadayil, S. A., McGrattan, A. M., Hammad, F. J., Al-Maseimi, O. D., & Alzoubi, K. H. (2023). Prevalence of dietary supplement use and knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP) and associated factors in student population: A cross-sectional study. Heliyon, 9(4).
Elsahoryi, N. A., Trakman, G., & Al Kilani, A. (2021). General and sports nutrition knowledge among Jordanian adult coaches and athletes: A cross-sectional survey. PloS one, 16(11), e0258123.
Finamore, A., Benvenuti, L., De Santis, A., Cinti, S., & Rossi, L. (2022). Sportsmen’s attitude towards dietary supplements and nutrition knowledge: An investigation in selected Roman area gyms. Nutrients, 14(5), 945.
Hardy, R., Kliemann, N., Evansen, T., & Brand, J. (2017). Relationship between energy drink consumption and nutrition knowledge in student-athletes. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 49(1), 19-26. e11.
Heikkilä, M., Valve, R., Lehtovirta, M., & Fogelholm, M. (2018). Nutrition knowledge among young Finnish endurance athletes and their coaches. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 28(5), 522-527.
Hurst, P., Schiphof-Godart, L., Kavussanu, M., Barkoukis, V., Petroczi, A., & Ring, C. (2023). Are dietary supplement users more likely to dope than non-users?: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Drug Policy, 117, 104077.
Jovanov, P., Đorđić, V., Obradović, B., Barak, O., Pezo, L., Marić, A., & Sakač, M. (2019). Prevalence, knowledge and attitudes towards using sports supplements among young athletes. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 16(1), 27.
Kofoed, C. L., Christensen, J., Dragsted, L. O., Tjønneland, A., & Roswall, N. (2015). Determinants of dietary supplement use–healthy individuals use dietary supplements. British Journal of Nutrition, 113(12), 1993-2000.
Maad, A. H., Aljerf, L., AlJerf, A., Dayoob, C. R., Sukkar, A. J., & Alajlani, M. (2024). A cross-sectional study on demographic characteristics, nutritional knowledge, and supplement use patterns. International Journal of Kinesiology & Sports Science, 12(4), 21.
Massad, S. J., Shier, N. W., Koceja, D. M., & Ellis, N. T. (1995). High school athletes and nutritional supplements: a study of knowledge and use. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 5(3), 232-245.
Maughan, R. J., Burke, L. M., Dvorak, J., Larson-Meyer, D. E., Peeling, P., Phillips, S. M., Rawson, E. S., Walsh, N. P., Garthe, I., & Geyer, H. (2018). IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 28(2), 104-125.
Mera-Zouain, L., Carballo, José Luis.,Guilabert Mora, Mercedes.,. (2022). Sports Supplements User Profile Based on Demographic, Sports, and Psychological Variables: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients, 14(21), 4481. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214481
Petroczi, A., & Naughton, D. P. (2008). The age-gender-status profile of high performing athletes in the UK taking nutritional supplements: lessons for the future. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 5(1), 2.
Piattoly, T. J. (2022). Dietary supplement safety: risk vs reward for athletes. Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine, 30(1), 150891.
Qoqazeh, A., Al-Bakheit, A. a., & Ghazzawi, H. (2024). A Cross-Sectional Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) toward Sport Supplements and Doping Agents in the Jordanian Communi-ty. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 12(1), 84-98.
Qutob, M. S., Qoqazeh, A., Azzeh, F., Abdullah, M., & Hammouh, F., . (2026). General and sports nutrition knowledge among nutritionists in Jordan. Retos, 75, 950-962. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v76.118023
Raosoft, I. (2004). Sample Size Calculator. Retrieved 7 July from https://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html
Rushe, C., Mullee, A.,. (2023). Ladies Gaelic football players: knowledge and sources of nutrition information for performance. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 82(OCE4), E262. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665123003385
Salgado, J. V., Lollo, P. C., Amaya-Farfan, J., & Chacon-Mikahil, M. P. (2014). Dietary supplement usage and motivation in Brazilian road runners. J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 11, 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-014-0041-z
Sekulic, D., Tahiraj, E., Maric, D., Olujic, D., Bianco, A., & Zaletel, P. (2019). What drives athletes toward dietary supplement use: objective knowledge or self-perceived competence? Cross-sectional analysis of professional team-sport players from Southeastern Europe during the competitive season. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 16(1), 25.
Spronk, I., Heaney, Susan E.,Prvan, Tania.,O'Connor, Helen T.,. (2015). Relationship Between General Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Quality in Elite Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 25(3), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0034
Trakman, G. L., Forsyth, A., Devlin, B. L., & Belski, R. (2016). A systematic review of athletes’ and coaches’ nutrition knowledge and reflections on the quality of current nutrition knowledge measures. Nutrients, 8(9), 570.
Trakman, G. L., Forsyth, A., Hoye, R., & Belski, R. (2018b). . (2018b). Development and validation of a brief general and sports nutrition knowledge questionnaire and assessment of athletes' nutrition knowledge. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15(17). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0223-1
Trakman, G. L., Forsyth, A., Middleton, K., Hoye, R., Jenner, S., Keenan, S., & Belski, R. (2018a). Australian football athletes lack awareness of current sport nutrition guidelines. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 28(6), 644-650. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0002
Vázquez-Espino, K. R.-F., G.; Farran-Codina, A. (2022). Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, Sources of Information, and Dietary Habits of Sport-Team Athletes. Nutrients, 14(7), 1345. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071345
Wardenaar, F., Van den Dool, R., Ceelen, I., Witkamp, R., & Mensink,. . (2016). Self-Reported Use and Reasons among the General Population for Using Sports Nutrition Products and Dietary Supplements. Sports, 4(2), 33. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/sports4020033
Werner, E. N., Guadagni, A. J., & Pivarnik, J. M. (2022). Assessment of nutrition knowledge in division I college athletes. Journal of American College Health, 70(1), 248-255.
Yaman, M. A., & Ibrahim, M. O. (2022). The consumption of dietary supplements among gym members in Amman, Jordan. Prog Nutr, 24(3), e2022078–e2022078.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ali Qoqazeh, Sameeha Thnaibat, Moawiya Haddad, Wesal Alraei, Fajer Al-Aittan, Eman Alhasan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
