Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41321711›Full record

ArticleJournal of nutrition and metabolism2025

Assessment of the University Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Use of Protein Supplements: A Cross-Sectional Study From the United Arab Emirates.

Taima Qudah, Sehar Iqbal, Hamza Al Absi, Sayed Sanal, Aya Elkoumi, Leen Fino, Suhad Abumweis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Taima QudahDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1660-5226
Sehar IqbalDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Hamza Al AbsiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Sayed SanalDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Aya ElkoumiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Leen FinoDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
Suhad AbumweisDepartment of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7541-9357

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Dietary supplements are widely used by athletes and sportspersons; however, little is known about protein supplement intake among university students undertaking strength training in gyms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the consumption, knowledge, perceptions, and use of protein supplementation, alone or in association with other supplements, among university students attending fitness centers in the UAE. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in the UAE using a previously validated, self-administered online survey. Result: A total of 402 adults participated in the study. Approximately 260 (64%) of the participants visited fitness centers, with a higher percentage of males (154/207, 74.4%) than females (106/195, 54.4%). Those who frequented gyms consumed more protein supplements (91/260, 35.0%) compared with nonattendees (8/142, 5.6%). Significant gender differences were observed regarding the benefits and risks of protein supplementation. Among all the participants, 123 (31%) thought that the greatest benefit was building muscle mass, while 141 (35%) believed there was no risk involved. Among protein supplement users, 65 of 109 (59.6%) experienced some type of side effect. Additionally, 57 (14.2%) reported that friends or family encouraged them to take protein supplements. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to educate university students about the responsible use of protein supplements and the potential risks associated with their misuse. This can be achieved by providing reliable information through university health centers, academic tutors, nutritionists, and awareness campaigns conducted by student wellness services.

Indexed as

cross-sectionknowledgeprotein supplementsstudentsUAE

Identifiers

PMID41321711
PMCPMC12662688

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.