Research Done By Eashaan Dassanayaka - Diploma in Bio Medical Science International Institute of Health Sciences Welisara Sri Lanka, Supervised by Dr. Nishan Silva Presented at Bio Inquirer research forum Sri lanka & International Health Conference 2016 Kings College London Strand.

1. Nutritional supplement use among
school level athletes in Sri Lanka. 2015
E.M Dassanayaka1
S.N Silva2
1
Student (Advance Diploma student in Bio Medical Science ; following at
International Institute of Health Sciences – Welisara Sri Lanka)
2
Supervisor ( Medical Doctor / lecturer at International Institute of Health Sciences –
Welisara Sri Lanka)

2. Contents
• Introduction
• Justification
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Recommendations
• References
• Acknowledgement

6. Introduction
• Sports supplement use is seen among school athletes in Colombo.
• Many Popular Schools in Colombo spend millions of rupees from
sponsor money on nutritional supplements.
• Apart from the products provided, school athletes consume other
products to be more competitive.
• Their actual practices, recommendations and associated risks are
unknown.

7. Justification
• 94% National Level Sri Lankan athletes (15-35 yrs.) take supplements. (de Silva
et al., 2010)
• In Singapore only 24% of the College athletes seek advice on Supplements
from relevant authorities. (Slater, Tan and Chuan Teh, 2003)
• There is a high prevalence of ergogenic drug use in school level sportsmen
and most of these drugs are masked under supplements and marketed. (Calfee
and Fadale, 2006)

8. (Yusko et al., 2008)

9. Objectives
1. To assess the types of nutritional supplements used by leading
school level athletes in popular Schools within Sri Lanka.
2. To describe how students get information about supplements.
3. To assess student athlete’s knowledge on banned substances.
4. Assess if the school level athletes are using banned substances
along with the sport supplements

10. Methodology
• Study design- A descriptive cross sectional study.
• Population – School level athletes in Sri Lanka.
• Sample size- 130 Conveniently selected school level athletes in
Colombo of the age 15-20.
• Area of study - Leading schools in Colombo area.
• Data collection method- A self administered questioner .

11. Results.

12. Demographics of the Study
Gender Age

14. Relied only on the label of
dietary supplements when
choosing the right
supplement.
of the population are
confident that supplements
are right for them.

15. Mentioned the name of the supplement

16. Form of Supplement taken

17. Sources of Information

18. Sport performance can be enhanced by vitamins
Sport performance can be enhanced by Energy Drinks

19. Athletes Knowledge on Performance enhancing in
Sports

20. 2.3% have taken Prohibited Enhancing drugs.

21. Discussion
• The prevalence of using supplements and prevalence of using banned subs were different from similar
international studies.
• Supplement use : International 30% – Vs This study 62.3% (Gradidge, Coopoo and Constantinou, 2011)
• Banned Substances use : International 13% - Vs This Study 2.3% (Gradidge, Coopoo and Constantinou, 2011)
• Many of the athletes who consumed the supplement products did not seek proper advice from a medical
officer.
• Similar study done in Sri Lanka only 45% sleeked advice from a medical doctor where as this study 40% sleeked advice. (de Silva et al., 2010)
• Study done in Singapoor only 24% seeked advice from a medical officer. (Slater, Tan and Chuan Teh, 2003)
• Athletes had poor knowledge on some doping agents.
• Athletes couldn’t differentiate Doping agents from nutritional products
• Sources of information many athletes used were not valid.
• Athletes had a fairly moderate knowledge on why doping agents are used in sports.

22. Recommendations
• Awareness campaigns should be carried out to educate the sportsmen and
women. Eg: Social media campaign
• Government should pass laws to make nutritionist prescription mandatory
in issuing supplements.
• Government should have authorities to monitor supplement products to
check the quality and if its good for athletes. (Regulatory authorities)
• Information on supplement product use should be provided to school
level athletes.
• School sport authorities should monitor student athletes supplement use.

23. Social media Campaign
Facebook page I created to spread awareness

26. Acknowledgement
• Dr. Kithsiri Edrisinghe, for teaching me about research and supporting
all the way through.
• I express my honest gratitude to Dr. Nishan Silva for guiding me for
being my supervisor.
• Dr. Pramishka, Dr. Dinusha, Mrs. Manisha, Ms. Miriam for the support
given through IIHS.
• Finally I thank all the participants in making this study a success.

27. References
• Calfee, R. and Fadale, P. (2006). Popular Ergogenic Drugs and Supplements in Young Athletes. PEDIATRICS, 117(3), pp.e577-
e589.
• de Silva, A., Samarasinghe, Y., Senanayake, D. and Lanerolle, P. (2010). Dietary Supplement Intake in National-Level Sri
Lankan Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, (20), pp.15-20.
• Fda.gov, (2015). What is a dietary supplement?. [online] Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm195635.htm [Accessed 29 Sep. 2015].
• Froiland, K., Koszewski, W., Hingst, J. and Kopecky, L. (2004). Nutritional Supplement Use Among College Athletes and Their
Sources of Information. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, (14), pp.104-120.
• Kristiansen, M., Levy-Milne, R., Barr, S. and Flint, A. (2005). Dietary Supplement Use by Varsity Athletes at a Canadian
University. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, (15), pp.195-210.
• Márquez, S. and Molinero, O. (2009). Use of nutritional supplements in sports: risks, knowledge, and behavioural-related
factors. Nutr Hosp, pp.128-134.
• Massad, S., Shier, N., Koceja, D. and Ellis, N. (1995). High School Athletes and Nutritional Supplements: A Study of
Knowledge and Use. International Journal of Sport Nutrition, [online] (5), pp.232-245. Available at:
http://journals.humankinetics.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/Documents/DocumentItem/8521.pdf.
• Yusko, D., Buckman, J., White, H. and Pandina, R. (2008). Alcohol, Tobacco, Illicit Drugs, and Performance Enhancers: A
Comparison of Use by College Student Athletes and Nonathletes. Journal of American College Health, 57(3), pp.281-290.
• Block, G., Jensen, C., Norkus, E., Dalvi, T., Wong, L., McManus, J. and Hudes, M. (2007). Usage patterns, health, and
nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional study. Nutrition Journal, 6(1), p.30.
• Gradidge, P., Coopoo, Y. and Constantinou, D. (2011). Prevalence of performance-enhancing substance use by Johannesburg
male adolescents involved in competitive high school sports. Archives of Exercise in Health and Disease, [online] 2(2),
pp.114-119. Available at: http://ciafel.fade.up.pt/aehd/index.php/aehd/article/view/102 [Accessed 13 Jun. 2016].
• Reuters UK. (2016). Beijing medals at risk for Russia after positive re-tests. [online] Available at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sports-doping-
russia-olympics-idUKKCN0YF24Q [Accessed 20 Jun. 2016].
• Reuters UK. (2016). IAAF votes to keep Russia banned ahead of Rio games - Russian federation. [online] Available at:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sport-doping-russia-ban-idUKKCN0Z31RP [Accessed 20 Jun. 2016].

28. Any Questions?
Email: Eashaan@Sc.IIHS.edu.lk
Thank you!!