RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The consumption of nutritional and protein supplements by adolescents may have important consequences for their health. METHODS: Prospective observational study based on a survey of adolescents enrolled in 6 schools selected at random in the city of Seville. Our primary objective was to determine the actual consumption of dietary supplements in the adolescent population and quantifying their protein content. RESULTS: We obtained a total of 263 valid responses that showed a prevalence of consumption of nutritional supplements of any kind of 19.01%, of which 56.0% (10.64% of the total) corresponded to adolescents that consumed protein supplements for a mean protein intake of 0.26â¯g/kg/day (SD, 0.18). The profile of consumers of any type of supplements differed from that of nonconsumers in age, use of long-term medication and weight loss or high-protein diets. The comparison of adolescents who consumed protein supplements versus nonprotein supplements only evinced a significant difference in the control of supplement consumption. Although most of these adolescents were not subject to external control, 25.92% of those who consumed protein supplements were monitored by a professional, compared to 7.38% of consumers of nonprotein supplements. In the group that consumed protein supplements, 85.18% of adolescents achieved the desired effect and 18.51% reported some form of negative effect. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of protein supplement consumption among adolescents in our area is 10.64%, with consumption of amounts corresponding to 25% of the recommended daily allowance of protein. The profile of protein supplement consumers is very similar to that of nonprotein supplement consumers.
RESUMO
Introducción: El consumo de suplementos nutricionales y proteicos por adolescentes puede tener importantes repercusiones para su salud. Material y método: Estudio prospectivo observacional, basado en una encuesta, dirigido a los adolescentes de seis colegios, seleccionados aleatoriamente, de la ciudad de Sevilla. Nuestro objetivo principal es conocer el consumo real de suplementos alimentarios entre la población adolescente, cuantificando su contenido proteico. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 263 respuestas válidas, objetivando una prevalencia de consumo de 19,01% para todos los suplementos nutricionales, de ellos 56,0% tomaban suplementos de proteínas (10,64% del total), con una ingesta media de estas últimas de 0,26±0,18 g/kg/día. El perfil del consumidor de cualquier tipo de suplementos se diferencia del de los que no los utilizan en la edad, el uso de medicación habitual y realizar dieta para perder peso o hiperproteica. Al comparar los adolescentes que ingerían productos proteicos con los no proteicos, la única variación significativa estuvo en el control del consumo. Aunque la mayoría no tiene control externo, en 25,92% de los que tomaban proteínas el seguimiento lo hacía un profesional, vs. 7,38% de los que ingerían suplementos no proteicos. De los consumidores de productos proteicos, 85,18% consiguió el objetivo buscado y 18,51% refirió algún efecto negativo. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de consumo de suplementos proteicos entre los adolescentes de nuestro medio es del 10,64%, en cantidades que suponen un 25% de las proteínas que deben ingerir diariamente. El perfil de consumidor de suplementos proteicos es muy similar al de aquel que toma productos no proteicos. (AU)
Introduction: The consumption of nutritional and protein supplements by adolescents may have important consequences for their health. Material and methods: Prospective observational study based on a survey of adolescents enrolled in six schools selected at random in the city of Seville. Our primary objective was to determine the actual consumption of dietary supplements in the adolescent population and quantifying their protein content. Results: We obtained a total of 263 valid responses that showed a prevalence of consumption of nutritional supplements of any kind of 19.01%, of which 56.0% (10.64% of the total) corresponded to adolescents that consumed protein supplements for a mean protein intake of 0.26 g/kg/day (SD, 0.18). The profile of consumers of any type of supplements differed from that of nonconsumers in age, use of long-term medication and weight loss or high-protein diets. The comparison of adolescents who consumed protein supplements versus nonprotein supplements only evinced a significant difference in the control of supplement consumption. Although most of these adolescents were not subject to external control, 25.92% of those who consumed protein supplements were monitored by a professional, compared to 7.38% of consumers of nonprotein supplements. In the group that consumed protein supplements, 85.18% of adolescents achieved the desired effect and 18.51% reported some form of negative effect. Conclusions: The prevalence of protein supplement consumption among adolescents in our area is 10.64%, with consumption of amounts corresponding to 25% of the recommended daily allowance of protein. The profile of protein supplement consumers is very similar to that of nonprotein supplement consumers. (AU)