Current Nutrition & Food Science   Maha H. Alhussain 1* , Waad S. Abdulhalim 1 , Laila N. Al-harbi 1 and Manal A. Binobead 1 . 1 Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia Abstract: Background: Protein supplements have become a widespread practice amongst ath- letes and gym users worldwide. However, studies on the use of protein supplements among female gym users in Saudi Arabia are lacking. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of protein supplement usage among female gym users and their attitudes towards protein supplementation in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 502 female gym users aged ≥18 years completed a structured, self-administered online questionnaire on the usage of protein supplementation. So- cio-demographic information, anthropometry, health status, exercise frequency, attitudes and knowledge regarding protein supplements were obtained. Results: The overall prevalence rate of protein supplement use among the study respondents was 36.3%. There were significant associations between the use of protein supplements and educational level (p< 0.05), the duration of being a gym member (p< 0.05) and frequency of gym visits per week (p< 0.05). Whey protein was the predominantly used supplement (57.8%), and the reason attributed to the use of protein supplement was muscle building (53.9%). The main sources of information regarding protein supplement use included the internet (30.2%) followed by gym coaches (25.3%). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that a considerable number of females exercising in gyms use protein supplements, and most rely on unreliable sources for decision-making of pro- tein supplements use. Nutritional education and consultations regarding protein supplement use are warranted. A R T I C L E H I S T O R Y Received: April 13, 2021 Revised: June 15, 2021 Accepted: June 17, 2021 DOI: 10.2174/1573401317666211007125615 Keywords: Protein supplements, prevalence, attitudes, whey protein, gym users, questionnaire. 1. INTRODUCTION A dietary supplement is a manufactured product that is intended to add further nutritional value to (supplement) the diet [1]. The use of dietary supplements is often driven by a belief that they can provide further health benefits beyond those achieved by a normal diet [2, 3]. A wide variety of dietary supplements are currently available, and protein sup- plements are one of the most popular forms, particularly amongst professional athletes [4-6]. Although gym users rarely reach the workload level of athletes, the use of protein supplements is also common among them [7]. The use of protein supplements amongst active individuals can be caused by many motivational factors, including claims of *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud Uni- versity, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Tel: 009661 467000; E-mail: mhussien@ksu.edu.sa health improvement, stimulation and maintenance of muscle growth and strength, enhancement of performance and in- creased rate of recovery [8-10]. Despite the growing popular- ity of protein supplements, the benefits of supplements in sports remain controversial [11]. It has been reported that the use of protein supplements was commonly based on infor- mation obtained from coaches, advertising, family, or friends and without much guidance from professional nutritional experts [4, 7, 12]. Proteins are essential nutrients for the human diet and are a necessary component for building and maintaining muscle, bone strength, and numerous body functions [13]. While the need for proteins does increase with the intensity and dura- tion of athletic performance [14], the use of protein supple- ments is not entirely warranted [15]. Proteins and other es- sential amino acids can be provided easily and cheaply from food. Furthermore, it has been proposed that the use of sup- 2212-3881/22 $65.00+.00 © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net 410 Current Nutrition & Food Science, 2022, 18, 410-418 RESEARCH ARTICLE Prevalence and Attitudes Towards Using Protein Supplements Among Female Gym Users: An Online Survey