Prevalence and Patterns of Dietary Supplement Use Among Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review

Dietary supplement use is widespread in elite sport, yet reported prevalence, commonly used supplements, motivations for use, and sources of information vary considerably across sports and regions. Understanding the patterns of supplement use among elite athletes is critical for sports nutrition guidance, anti-doping education, and athlete health and safety, yet reported prevalence varies widely. Existing studies are fragmented and often context specific, limiting generalisability. To our knowledge, no systematic review has exclusively focused on prevalence and patterns of supplement use specifically among elite athletes, a population with unique characteristics, pressures, and anti-doping considerations that warrant separate examination. This review will systematically synthesize available evidence to provide comprehensive and up-to-date estimates of the prevalence of supplement use among elite athletes, identify commonly used products, and clarify reasons and influences for use. The findings will inform athletes, coaches, clinicians, and policy makers and support evidence-based guidance and education in elite sport.