Sports supplements represent a multi-million dollar industry. Active adults and athletes are often enticed by effective supplement marketing. The promises of enhanced performance among other claims are motivating factors to purchase alternative nutrition to achieve results.

It's estimated that in 2016, the dietary supplement industry garnered more than $40 billion in sales, with sports nutrition supplements accounting for nearly 14%. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, athletes, especially elite athletes, are more likely to use dietary supplements and sports nutrition products compared to the general U.S. population.

Despite the popularity of supplements, however, a lack of federal regulation and quality control may mean that unreliable and ineffective products are being used.

What Is a Supplement?

Supplements are considered an addition to an already healthy diet. Active adults or athletes may include supplements to help meet their nutritional needs, improve nutrient deficiencies, enhance athletic performance or achieve personal fitness goals. But without a well-designed nutrition plan in place, supplementation is said to be rarely effective.

Supplement Regulation and Standards

Dietary supplements have been placed in a special food category and not considered drugs. Supplements aren’t required to be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for regulation. Although the FDA has the ability to review ingredients and health claims of supplements, very few are investigated. 

Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, botanicals, extracts, or concentrates from plants or foods. They are typically sold as capsules, tablets, liquids, powders or bars and required to be clearly labeled as a dietary supplement. 

Ergogenic aids include substances, drugs or techniques used to enhance athletic performance. They can range from acceptable practices of carbohydrate loading to illegal and even unsafe approaches including the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Evaluating the Benefit of Supplements

Supplement use remains controversial and is a personal choice. Common questions asked by active adults, athletes, and sports nutritionists relate to manufacturing and supplement quality. Locating evidence-based research information is highly advised before considering sports foods and supplements.

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) recommends evaluating the validity and scientific merit behind supplement claims for enhanced athletic performance. The following questions are suggested:

Does the supplement claim make sense? 

Is there scientific evidence available?

Is the supplement legal or safe?

Supplements are marketed for health and exercise performance based on hypothetical applications gathered from preliminary research. The claims sound promising but often don’t agree with clinical findings. Reliable online references like the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition or the National Library of Medicine's PubMed will help you discern if a supplement is based on sound scientific evidence or not. 

If working with a sports dietitian or specialist, they can be a valuable resource in supplement research interpretation. The information gathered will enable you to make the best decision about taking sports supplements for health and athletic goals.

A Word From Verywell

Dietary supplements are generally not required for the well-nourished active adult or athlete. Many ergogenic aids are unreliable and should only be considered after careful evaluation of effectiveness, potency, and safety. Extra caution should also be taken because these products are not regulated by FDA. However, sports supplements are here to stay and can play a meaningful role in your training program.

Any supplement under consideration should be backed by chronic clinical studies and clear evidence of their health or ergogenic claims. In other words, become supplement smart for your health and athletic performance and consult a registered dietitian, nutritionist, or your healthcare provider if you have questions.