Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices on Nutrition and Supplement Use Among Athletes of State Universities in Sri Lanka

Background: While a healthy and nutritious diet is crucial for optimizing athletic performance, there is often a gap in the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sports nutrition among athletes.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices, along with the factors influencing food and nutritional behavior, in a group of Sri Lankan university athletes. The study also examined the habit of supplement usage among these study participants.
Materials & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional online survey was carried out among undergraduate athletes in two state universities in Sri Lanka. Data were collected after informed consent. A pretested online questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic information, knowledge, attitudes, and practices on nutrition and their associated factors, along with the pattern of supplement use. Score calculations, as well as descriptive and inferential statistical methods, were employed in data analysis.
Results: Out of 139 participants (aged 21-28 years, 51.8% male), a significant proportion (69%) had not received formal nutrition education. Surprisingly, 92.8% still achieved above-average knowledge scores for sports nutrition. Most received nutritional guidance from their coaches (62.6%), contributing to 59.7% adopting favorable dietary practices. Their primary challenge was limited access to healthy food options (36.7%). Impressively, an overwhelming majority displayed positive attitudes (99.3%). Interestingly, older athletes exhibited better knowledge (p=0.008), while those with lower BMI scores demonstrated good practices (p=0.018). Notable items included vitamins (17.3%), calcium (17.3%), and iron (13.7%) among the daily used supplements. However, a large majority did not consume supplements. Some athletes chose supplements on their own (19.4%), while others followed guidance from the coach (16.6%).
Conclusion: Despite lacking formal education in nutrition, Sri Lankan university athletes demonstrated noteworthy levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in sports nutrition.