Supplements and Sports Foods
Supplements and sports foods represent a lucrative industry that takes advantage of strong marketing to athletes and people who exercise, while also reflecting the community interest in supplements.

The use of supplements and sports foods by athletes involves a balance between the potential benefits (e.g. contribution to an evidence-based sports nutrition program) and potential risks (e.g. waste of resources, distraction, poor role modelling, anti-doping rule violations, adverse health events). Although many sports agencies still provide a blanket warning against the use of supplements in view of these concerns, there is a movement towards a more pragmatic approach. This approach requires the athlete to make a considered decision when contemplating the use of a supplement/sport food:

Is it safe?
Is it permitted in sport?
Is there evidence that it “works” (i.e. is there evidence that it will provide a meaningful benefit?)
The 2018 consensus statement on supplements and the high-performance athlete by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provides a summary of the challenges faced by the high performance athletes, coaches and support staff when considering the use of supplements.

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