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Table 2 Prevalence of sport-related nutritional supplement use reported by service members by demographic, lifestyle, and military characteristics

From: Prevalence, factors associated with use, and adverse effects of sport-related nutritional supplements (sport drinks, sport bars, sport gels): the US military dietary supplement use study

Variable

Strata

Any SRNS Consumed ≥1 Time per Week (%±SE)

Number of SRNSs Consumed ≥1 Time per Week (%±SE)

Specific SRNS Types Consumed ≥1 Time per Week (%±SE)

1

2

3

Sport Drink

Sport Bar

Sport Gel

Sport Bar & Gela

Cohort

All (n = 26,681)

44.6 ± 0.5

28.9 ± 0.5

13.6 ± 0.6

2.2 ± 0.6

32.3 ± 0.3

26.9 ± 0.3

3.4 ± 0.1

27.5 ± 0.3

Gender

Men (n = 23,038)

46.1 ± 0.3

29.6 ± 0.6

14.3 ± 0.6

2.3 ± 0.7

33.7 ± 0.3

27.7 ± 0.3

3.5 ± 0.1

28.4 ± 0.3

Women (n = 3,642)

35.0 ± 0.8

24.2 ± 1.4

9.3 ± 1.6

1.4 ± 1.6

23.1 ± 0.7

21.3 ± 0.7

2.7 ± 0.3

21.9 ± 0.7

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

0.01

<0.01

Age

18-24 yr (n = 4,660)

50.8 ± 0.7

30.6 ± 1.2

17.9 ± 1.3

2.3 ± 1.5

41.8 ± 0.7

28.6 ± 0.7

2.8 ± 0.2

29.9 ± 0.7

25-29 yr (n = 5,580)

46.2 ± 0.7

29.3 ± 1.1

14.7 ± 1.2

2.2 ± 1.3

33.5 ± 0.6

28.6 ± 0.6

3.2 ± 0.2

29.1 ± 0.6

30-39 yr (n = 11,031)

43.7 ± 0.5

29.0 ± 0.8

12.6 ± 0.9

2.1 ± 0.9

30.3 ± 0.4

26.8 ± 0.4

3.5 ± 0.2

27.6 ± 0.4

≥40 yr (n = 5,275)

39.8 ± 0.7

26.9 ± 1.2

10.7 ± 1.3

2.1 ± 1.4

27.1 ± 0.6

23.9 ± 0.6

3.7 ± 0.6

24.9 ± 0.6

p-value (chi square/trend)

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

0.06/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

Formal Education

Some HS/HS Grad (n = 3,879)

46.9 ± 0.8

29.5 ± 1.3

15.1 ± 1.5

2.3 ± 1.6

39.9 ± 0.8

24.0 ± 0.7

2.9 ± 0.3

24.4 ± 0.7

Some College (n = 11,378)

44.3 ± 0.5

28.8 ± 0.8

13.8 ± 0.9

1.8 ± 0.9

34.2 ± 0.4

24.7 ± 0.4

2.8 ± 0.2

25.2 ± 0.4

College Degree (n = 11,418)

44.1 ± 0.5

28.8 ± 0.8

12.9 ± 0.9

2.4 ± 0.9

27.8 ± 0.4

30.0 ± 0.4

4.0 ± 0.2

30.8 ± 0.4

p-value (chi square/trend)

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

Marital Status

Never Married (n = 6,471)

43.2 ± 0.4

28.4 ± 0.6

12.6 ± 0.7

2.1 ± 0.7

37.3 ± 0.6

26.1 ± 0.5

3.5 ± 0.2

26.9 ± 0.6

Married (n = 17,686)

48.8 ± 0.6

30.2 ± 1.0

16.4 ± 1.1

2.2 ± 1.2

30.5 ± 0.3

29.3 ± 0.3

3.0 ± 0.1

29.6 ± 0.6

Sep, Widowed, Divorced (n = 2,145)

43.5 ± 1.1

28.8 ± 1.8

12.8 ± 2.0

2.0 ± 2.1

31.2 ± 1.0

26.0 ± 0.9

3.1 ± 0.4

26.6 ± 1.0

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

0.17

<0.01

Body Mass Index

<25.0 kg/m2 (n = 7,856)

44.0 ± 0.6

28.5 ± 1.0

13.2 ± 1.1

2.3 ± 1.1

31.8 ± 0.5

26.3 ± 0.5

3.6 ± 0.2

26.9 ± 0.5

25.0-29.9 kg/m2 (n = 13,898)

45.2 ± 0.4

29.1 ± 0.7

14.0 ± 0.8

2.1 ± 0.8

32.2 ± 0.4

28.0 ± 0.4

3.3 ± 0.2

28.7 ± 0.4

≥30.0 kg/m2 (n = 4,424)

44.3 ± 0.7

29.3 ± 1.3

13.0 ± 1.4

2.0 ± 1.5

33.5 ± 0.7

24.7 ± 0.6

3.2 ± 0.3

25.3 ± 0.7

p-value (chi square/trend)

0.17/0.50

0.26/0.95

0.18/0.09

<0.01/0.26

0.37/0.16

<0.01/0.31

Aerobic Exercise Duration

≤90 min/wk (n = 7,287)

38.9 ± 0.6

27.2 ± 1.0

10.7 ± 1.1

1.0 ± 1.2

27.1 ± 0.5

23.2 ± 0.5

1.4 ± 0.1

23.4 ± 0.5

91-180 min/wk (n = 7,285)

43.9 ± 0.6

29.4 ± 1.0

13.0 ± 1.1

1.6 ± 1.2

31.6 ± 0.5

26.3 ± 0.5

2.2 ± 0.2

26.6 ± 0.5

181-300 min/wk (n = 5,869)

46.7 ± 0.7

29.9 ± 1.1

14.6 ± 1.2

2.2 ± 1.3

33.3 ± 0.6

28.5 ± 0.6

3.9 ± 0.3

29.3 ± 0.6

>300 min/wk (n = 6,240)

50.0 ± 0.6

29.3 ± 1.1

16.6 ± 1.2

4.2 ± 1.2

38.2 ± 0.6

30.3 ± 0.6

6.5 ± 0.3

31.7 ± 0.6

p-value (chi square/trend)

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

Resistance Training Duration

≤45 min/wk (n = 7,776)

34.9 ± 0.5

23.9 ± 1.0

9.6 ± 1.1

1.4 ± 1.1

26.8 ± 0.5

18.0 ± 0.4

2.6 ± 0.2

18.7 ± 0.4

46-135 min/wk (n = 6,257)

43.9 ± 0.6

29.8 ± 1.1

12.0 ± 1.2

2.0 ± 1.2

31.4 ± 0.6

25.3 ± 0.6

3.3 ± 0.2

26.0 ± 0.6

136-300 min/wk (n = 6,582)

49.8 ± 0.6

31.9 ± 1.0

15.8 ± 1.1

2.1 ± 1.2

34.9 ± 0.6

31.7 ± 0.6

3.3 ± 0.2

32.3 ± 0.6

>300 min/wk (n = 6,066)

52.1 ± 0.6

31.0 ± 1.1

17.9 ± 1.2

3.2 ± 1.3

37.1 ± 0.6

34.6 ± 0.6

4.5 ± 0.3

35.2 ± 0.6

p-value (chi-square/trend)

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

Smoking

Never Smoked (n = 16,706)

42.7 ± 0.4

27.9 ± 0.7

12.6 ± 0.7

2.2 ± 0.8

30.0 ± 0.4

26.3 ± 0.3

3.3 ± 0.1

26.9 ± 0.3

Smoked but Quit (N = 4,767)

46.1 ± 0.7

29.7 ± 1.2

14.4 ± 1.3

2.0 ± 1.5

33.1 ± 0.7

27.6 ± 0.6

3.6 ± 0.3

28.6 ± 0.7

Smoker (n = 4,512)

51.4 ± 0.7

32.4 ± 1.2

16.8 ± 1.4

2.3 ± 1.5

40.4 ± 0.7

29.1 ± 0.7

3.3 ± 0.3

29.7 ± 0.7

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

0.70

<0.01

Smokeless Tobacco Use

Never Used (n = 20,379)

42.6 ± 0.3

28.2 ± 0.6

12.4 ± 0.7

2.0 ± 0.7

30.4 ± 0.3

25.5 ± 0.3

3.1 ± 0.1

26.1 ± 0.3

Used but Quit (n = 2,047)

51.9 ± 1.1

31.7 ± 1.8

17.4 ± 2.0

2.8 ± 2.2

36.5 ± 1.1

33.7 ± 1.1

4.7 ± 0.5

34.7 ± 1.1

User (n = 3,114)

55.6 ± 0.9

33.0 ± 1.5

19.7 ± 1.6

2.9 ± 1.8

43.6 ± 09

33.4 ± 0.8

4.0 ± 0.4

34.1 ± 0.8

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Alcohol Intake

0 ml/wk (n = 8,372)

37.3 ± 0.5

24.8 ± 0.9

10.7 ± 1.0

1.7 ± 1.1

27.9 ± 0.5

21.0 ± 0.4

2.7 ± 0.2

21.5 ± 0.4

0.23-24.85 ml/wk (n = 6,132)

41.3 ± 0.6

28.4 ± 1.1

11.3 ± 1.2

1.7 ± 1.3

28.5 ± 0.6

24.5 ± 0.5

2.9 ± 0.2

25.1 ± 0.6

24.86-71.69 ml/wk (n = 6,108)

49.5 ± 0.6

31.9 ± 1.1

15.4 ± 1.2

2.2 ± 1.3

35.0 ± 0.6

30.7 ± 0.6

3.6 ± 0.2

31.6 ± 0.6

≥71.70 ml/wk (n = 6,068)

53.0 ± 0.6

32.0 ± 1.1

18.0 ± 1.2

3.1 ± 1.3

39.3 ± 0.6

33.4 ± 0.6

4.5 ± 0.3

34.2 ± 0.6

p-value (chi square/trend)

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

<0.01/<0.01

Rank

Junior Enlisted (n = 2,496)

47.4 ± 1.0

29.4 ± 1.7

15.8 ± 1.8

2.1 ± 2.0

39.1 ± 1.0

26.0 ± 0.9

2.4 ± 0.3

26.1 ± 0.9

Mid-Enlisted (n = 11,609)

44.3 ± 0.5

28.9 ± 0.8

13.5 ± 0.9

1.8 ± 0.9

34.5 ± 0.4

24.2 ± 0.4

2.7 ± 0.2

24.7 ± 0.4

Senior Enlisted (n = 4,365)

41.5 ± 0.7

26.8 ± 1.3

12.3 ± 1.4

2.3 ± 1.5

30.9 ± 0.4

23.8 ± 0.4

3.8 ± 0.2

24.6 ± 0.7

Warrant Officer (n = 576)

43.4 ± 2.1

29.3 ± 3.5

11.5 ± 3.9

2.6 ± 4.1

29.2 ± 1.8

26.0 ± 1.8

4.9 ± 0.9

27.3 ± 1.8

Junior Officer (n = 3,892)

49.3 ± 0.8

30.8 ± 1.3

15.7 ± 1.5

2.8 ± 1.6

30.7 ± 0.7

35.8 ± 0.8

4.2 ± 0.3

36.3 ± 0.8

Senior Officer (n = 3,742)

42.7 ± 0.8

28.6 ± 1.4

11.9 ± 1.5

2.2 ± 1.6

24.5 ± 0.7

30.1 ± 0.8

4.4 ± 0.3

31.4 ± 0.8

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Occupational Assignment Group

Combat Arms (n = 6,451)

50.3 ± 0.6

30.6 ± 1.0

16.5 ± 1.1

3.2 ± 1.2

36.1 ± 0.6

32.5 ± 0.6

4.7 ± 0.3

33.3 ± 0.6

Combat Support (n = 10,424)

43.9 ± 0.5

28.5 ± 0.8

13.5 ± 0.9

2.0 ± 1.0

31.9 ± 0.5

26.3 ± 0.4

3.1 ± 0.2

26.8 ± 0.4

Combat Service Support (n = 9,133)

41.9 ± 0.5

28.3 ± 0.9

11.9 ± 1.0

1.7 ± 1.0

30.4 ± 0.5

24.1 ± 0.4

2.8 ± 0.2

24.7 ± 0.5

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Service Branch

Air Force (n = 9,789)

41.3 ± 0.5

28.2 ± 0.9

11.4 ± 1.0

1.7 ± 1.0

29.0 ± 0.5

24.5 ± 0.4

2.6 ± 0.2

25.0 ± 0.4

Army (n = 7,935)

45.1 ± 0.6

29.3 ± 0.9

13.6 ± 1.1

2.3 ± 1.1

33.6 ± 0.5

25.6 ± 0.5

3.8 ± 0.2

26.8 ± 0.5

Marine Corps (n = 3,194)

54.3 ± 0.9

31.1 ± 1.5

19.8 ± 1.6

3.5 ± 1.7

42.5 ± 0.9

34.0 ± 0.8

4.5 ± 0.4

34.6 ± 0.8

Navy (n = 5,763)

44.0 ± 0.7

28.1 ± 1.1

13.8 ± 1.2

2.1 ± 2.0

30.2 ± 0.6

28.3 ± 0.6

3.5 ± 0.2

28.9 ± 0.6

p-value (chi-square)

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

  1. Sums may not equal the total sample size due to missing data (SMs did not answer all questions)
  2. Abbreviations: SRNS sports-related nutritional supplement, SE Standard error, HS High School, Grad Graduate, Sep Separated
  3. aService member used either sports bar or sports gel. Included because many military studies combine these supplement types [4,5,6, 12]
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Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

ISSN: 1550-2783

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