DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE IN SPORTS

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to examine the Influence of dietary supplements on sport performance of Human Kinetics students in the University of Benin. To guide this study, four research questions were raised. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was delimited to student of the Human Kinetics and Sports Science department. The study population was comprised of Three Hundred and Six (306) students of the Human Kinetics and Sports Science department. A sample size of One Hundred and Twenty two (122) students was selected from the total population. The main Instrument of this research is a 20 item self-structured questionnaire which was validated by the researcher's supervisor and two other experts, all from the Department of Human Kinetics and Sports Science, University of Benin. The instrument was tested for reliability using the Split-half method. The results showed a reliability coefficient of 0.76, which was considered high, acceptable and accurate. Data collection was carried out by the researcher and the collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 21. Data analysis was done using frequency counts and percentage. The findings of this study revealed that students are well equipped with the knowledge about the Influence of dietary supplements on sport performance. More findings from this study revealed that the use of dietary supplements helps boost sport performance. On the basis of this study, it was recommended that Students need to be educated on the Important of dietary supplements on sport performance. Student athletes should be encouraged to consume antioxidant foods as they help prevent deficiency