title: Prevalence, knowledge and attitudes relating to β-alanine use among professional footballers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate β-alanine supplementation use and level of knowledge amongst professional footballers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of Australian professional football players.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia; Performance Sciences Department, Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club, Australia. Electronic address: v.kelly2@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Vincent G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Leveritt
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005538:Football / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015091:beta-Alanine
keywords: Football; Questionnaire; Sport; Supplement