Volume 29, Issue 162, August 2025

The Rise of Supplement Use in Recreational Athletes: Benefits and Health Risks – A Literature Review

Aleksandra Górniak^1♦, Aleksandra Kubas¹, Michał Widawski¹, Natalia Gizińska¹, Aleksander Sobczyk¹, Paulina Lewandowska², Amelia Rusiecka³

¹University Clinical Hospital No.2 of Medical University of Lodz, Poland
²The Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
³Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Aleksandra Górniak, University Clinical Hospital No.2 of Medical University of Lodz, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Supplements have become increasingly used in the last several years, most prominently among recreational athletes. Although some supplements, such as protein powders, creatine, or pre-workouts, are helpful in the short term, their use in unmonitored environments can become a health concern. In this article, we cover some of the newer supplements in use among this population and attempt to distinguish between the intelligent, goal-directed use of supplements and the less desirable trend of excessive use. Methods: The research authors conducted a systematic literature review, searching ResearchGate and PubMed. The peerreviewed journals also underwent searching of July 1995 - May 2025, focused on journals of the past few years. Systematic reviews of the most popular supplements like protein, caffeine, and creatine supplements, and observational research, randomized trials satisfied the inclusion criterion. The authors reviewed and assessed 68 studies according to the PRISMA protocol. Conclusion: While others may provide better performance or assist in recovery, the performance is variable and dependent on the circumstances, dose, and the user's health. The recreational exerciser is not always able to resort to the advantage of the experienced opinion and is therefore vulnerable to abuse of supplements. The result of all of this is that awareness and education in the correct use of supplements are needed. After all, no supplement will ever replace the fundamentals: good nutrition, good rest, and hydration—more than anything, they are the ultimate determiners of athlete performance and recovery.

Keywords: dietary supplements, recreational athletes, protein supplementation, creatine

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e144ms3687

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i162.e144ms3687

Published: 25 August 2025