Prevalence, predictors, and patterns of dietary supplement use among athletes in Oman: a cross-sectional study using the Australian institute of sport classification framework

Abstract Background Dietary supplement (DS) use is common among athletes, yet data from the Arabian Gulf region remain scarce. This study described the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of DS use among Omani athletes, classifying products with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) framework. Methods In this cross-sectional survey, 379 athletes (287 males, 91 females, one with missing sex; age 13–47 years) were recruited by purposive sampling from sports clubs, university teams, and recreational centres in Oman between January and April 2022. An Arabic self-administered questionnaire assessed supplement-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The primary outcome was lifetime DS use. Correlates were examined with multivariable logistic regression (odds ratios [OR] with 95% confidence intervals [CI]); secondary comparisons were treated as exploratory, with false-discovery-rate correction. Results Overall, 218 athletes (57.5%; 95% CI: 52.5–62.4%) reported having used DS, more often males than females (60.6% vs. 47.3%; p = 0.025), with no significant difference between official- and non-official-competition athletes (60.1% vs. 54.7%; p = 0.29). Protein, multivitamins and minerals, fish oil, creatine, and energy drinks were used most frequently; 86.2% of users reported at least one AIS Group A product, but 63.8% reported products that could not be classified from the information collected. In the multivariable model, greater weekly training volume was associated with higher odds of use (OR per hour = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04–1.17); age showed a non-linear pattern, with use peaking at 25–34 years, and sex and competitive level showed no clear independent association. The training-volume association persisted after further adjustment for sport discipline, education, occupation, and years of practice, and athletes in strength, power, and fitness disciplines reported the highest use (91.7%). Retail stores (34.9%) and pharmacies (26.6%) were the main sources, and 27.5% of users reported consulting a physician before use. Conclusions More than half of the athletes surveyed in 2022 had used DS. Training volume and, in sensitivity analyses, sport discipline, rather than sex or competitive level, were the clearest correlates of use. These descriptive findings from a non-probability sample identify athletes with high training loads and those in strength-based disciplines as priority groups for supplement-safety education.