TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Prevalence, knowledge and attitudes relating to β-alanine use among professional footballers
JO  - Journal of science and medicine in sport
A1  - Kelly, Vincent G.
A1  - Leveritt, Michael D.
A1  - Brennan, Christopher T.
A1  - Slater, Gary J.
A1  - Jenkins, David G.
SP  - 12
EP  - 16
VL  - 20
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate β-alanine supplementation use and level of knowledge amongst professional footballers. <br><br>DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of Australian professional football players. <br><br>METHODS: Questionnaires assessing β-alanine supplementation behaviours, level of knowledge and sources of information were completed by professional rugby union (RU) (n=87), rugby league (RL) (n=180) and Australian Rules Football (ARF) (n=303) players. <br><br>RESULTS: Approximately 61% of athletes reported β-alanine use, however use by ARF football players (44%) was lower than that of RU (80%) and RL players (80%). The majority of respondents were not using β-alanine in accordance with recommendations. Only 35% of the participants were able to correctly identify the potential benefits of β-alanine supplementation. The main information sources that influenced players' decision to use β-alanine were strength and conditioning coach (71%) and dietitian (52%). Forty-eight per cent of athletes never read labels prior to supplementing and only 11% completed their own research on β-alanine. Compared to RL and ARF players, RU players had both a greater knowledge of β-alanine supplementation and better supplementation practices. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Despite over half the surveyed professional footballers using β-alanine, the majority of athletes used β-alanine in a manner inconsistent with recommendations. A better understanding of the environment and culture within professional football codes is required before supplement use becomes consistent with evidence based supplement recommendations.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1440-2440
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.06.006
ID  - ref1
ER  -