• Francesca Gallè, Federica Valeriani, Andrea De Giorgi, Silvia Angelillo, Annalisa Bargellini, Aida Bianco, Lavinia Bianco, Giuseppina Caggiano, Maria Eugenia Colucci, Maria Anna Coniglio, Laura Dallolio, Osvalda De Giglio, GiuseppeGabriella DiGDDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy., Heba Safwat Mhmoued Abdo Elhadidy, Maria Eufemia Gioffrè, Pasqualina Laganà, Francesca Licata, Isabella Marchesi, Alice Masini, Maria Teresa Montagna, Christian Napoli, Giovanni Battista Orsi, Cesira Pasquarella, Concetta Paola Pelullo, Stefania Paduano, Rossella Sacchetti, Giacomo Scaioli, Roberta Siliquini, Licia Veronesi, Giorgio Liguori, SpicaVincenzo RomanoVRDepartment of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy., Matteo Vitali, and Carmela Protano.
• Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples "Parthenope," Naples, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.galle@uniparthenope.it.
• Nutrition. 2023 Mar 1; 107: 111902111902.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of dietary supplements (DSs) and related sociodemographic characteristics or behaviors in Italian undergraduates.MethodsA questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2021 and May 2022 involving undergraduates from 12 public universities. The use of DSs in the previous 6 mo, the aim and reason for use, the purchasing channel, and related adverse effects were explored and compared by sex. A logistic regression was performed to highlight possible associations between sociodemographic, anthropometric, and behavioral characteristics of participants and supplement consumption.ResultsThe use of DSs was reported by 71.5% of the 2165 respondents. Supplementation was related to sex (odds ratio [OR] 0.690; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.516-0.924, for men), vegetarian or vegan (OR 4.814; 95% CI, 1.669-13.887) and other particular diet regimens (OR 1.819; 95% CI, 1.282-2.580), sport (OR 1.688; 95% CI, 1.116-2.553), and type of sport (OR 0.629; 95% CI, 0.423-0.936, for team sports). Women were more likely to use DSs following a doctor's prescription and to buy them in a pharmacy (P < 0.001) but reported more adverse effects (P = 0.018) than men. The main aim pursued was general health; proteins, amino acids, and non-caffeinated energy supplements were consumed to improve physical performance and caffeinated energy supplements for mental performance.ConclusionsDiet supplementation was common in the sample examined, especially in women, and associated with particular dietary regimens and sports, especially individual sports. Female consumers follow specialists' indications more than males. These results highlight the need for educational interventions about diet supplementation for this category of users.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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