Dietary supplement use is common among physically active adults in Eastern Saudi Arabia (66.9%) and is largely unaffected by basic anthropometric or demographic factors, but is shaped by sex-specific exercise patterns and educational and occupational contexts.
Key Findings
Results
The prevalence of dietary supplement use among physically active adults in Eastern Saudi Arabia was 66.9%.
505 out of 755 physically active adults reported using dietary supplements.
250 males used supplements (65.96% of male participants) and 255 females used supplements (67.82% of female participants).
The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Results
No significant differences were observed between supplement users and non-users in age, weight, height, or BMI.
Independent-samples t-tests showed t = 0.32–1.68 across these physical characteristics.
P-values ranged from p = 0.093 to 0.975, indicating no statistical significance.
Effect sizes were small, with Cohen's d = 0.02–0.19.
Results
Two-way ANOVA confirmed sex-related differences in height and weight, and minor differences in BMI, with female supplement users being younger and male users having slightly higher BMIs.
Sex-related differences in height and weight had large effect sizes (η² = 0.20–0.47).
Differences in BMI were minor (η² = 0.02).
Female supplement users were younger than non-users, while male supplement users had slightly higher BMIs.
Results
Supplement use was significantly associated with body type, occupation, and education, but not income.
Association with body type: Cramer's V = 0.12.
Association with occupation: Cramer's V = 0.41 (strongest association among these factors).
Association with education: Cramer's V = 0.21.
Income was not significantly associated with supplement use.
Results
Male supplement users exercised more than four times per week significantly more often than female supplement users.
64.4% of male supplement users exercised more than four times per week, compared to 42.9% of female supplement users.
The difference was statistically significant: χ² = 71.18, p < 0.001, Cramer's V = 0.31.
This indicates a moderate effect size for the sex difference in training frequency among supplement users.
Results
Training motivations did not differ significantly across sex × supplement use groups.
Chi-square analysis yielded χ² = 20.49, p = 0.154, Cramer's V = 0.16.
The non-significant result indicates that motivations for training were similar regardless of sex or supplement use status.
Alhumaid M, Alobaid M, Said M. (2026). Patterns, motivations, and determinants of dietary supplement use among physically active adults in Eastern Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1734477