Use of dietary supplements and anabolic-androgenic steroids among Finnish adolescents in 1991-2005.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence, trends and associated factors of dietary supplements (DS) and anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) use among Finnish adolescents.


METHODS
The sample comprised 30 511 adolescents aged 12-18 years, of which 22 519 (74%) answered a questionnaire. We also studied associations between 14 socioeconomic, health and health behavioural variables and DS and AAS use by logistic regression.


RESULTS
The proportion of respondents using DS was 45% during the past year and it increased linearly by age. Vitamins (37%) and herbal products (13%) were the most common DSs. In 1991, 9% of the boys aged 16-18 years reported protein use, while the frequency in 2005 was 17% (P < 0.001). AAS use was uncommon; only 53 boys (0.5%) and 20 girls (0.2%) reported AAS use. The strongest factors associated with DS use in multivariate model were physical exercise outside sports clubs (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.6-2.2), and in sports clubs (OR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.5-1.9). Recurrent drunkenness (OR 5.8; 95% CI: 1.5-21.6) and peer drug use in boys (OR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.7) were the risk factors for AAS use, whereas physical exercise outside sports clubs (OR 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1-0.5) was a protecting factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the overall use of DS remained at the same level during the study period, there was a slight trend towards increasing use of vitamin and protein supplements. DS use is associated with frequent sports participation and poorer than average health, while AAS use is associated with health-compromising behaviours.
Mattila
Ville M
VM
The School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland. Ville.Mattila@uta.fi
Parkkari
Jari
J
Laakso
Lauri
L
Pihlajamäki
Harri
H
Rimpelä
Arja
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D045930:Anabolic Agents; D002648:Child; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004300:Doping in Sports; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013256:Steroids; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013256:Steroids; D014815:Vitamins