Awareness and Risk Behaviors Associated with Tribulus terrestris (Tt), Dietary Supplements, and Anabolic Steroids: Evidence from an Italian Questionnaire-Based Study

TL;DR

This study explores how often people in Italy use Tribulus terrestris, a supplement claimed to boost fitness, and finds that it's mainly used for performance enhancement, not age or gender.

Contribution

The study provides the first empirical data on Tt use among Italian recreational athletes, highlighting performance motivation as the key driver.

Findings

7.8% of respondents currently use Tribulus terrestris, and 10.5% have ever used it.

Performance enhancement is the strongest predictor of Tt use, with an adjusted odds ratio of 18.5.

Anabolic steroid use is rare but associated with purchasing from unregulated online sources.

Abstract

Background: Tribulus terrestris (Tt) is a popular herbal supplement marketed to enhance fitness performance, despite inconclusive evidence regarding its efficacy and safety. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of TT use, awareness, and motivations for its use among recreational athletes in Italy, helping to address the lack of empirical data describing who actually uses Tt, for what purposes, and with what behavioral risks. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered between May and October 2024 across Italian gyms and fitness clubs using Microsoft Forms. A total of 696 individuals initiated the questionnaire; after removal of duplicate, incomplete and ineligible entries, 510 responses were analyzed. Two indicators of Tt consumption were assessed: ever use and current use, with the latter designated as the primary outcome. A multivariable logistic regression evaluated predictors of current Tt use, entering sex, age category (18–24, 25–34, 35–44, ≥45 years), and motivation for supplement consumption. Results: Current Tt use was reported by 7.8% of respondents, while 10.5% declared ever using a Tt-containing product. Motivation was the only independent predictor of Tt consumption (p = 0.012). Individuals reporting performance enhancement as their primary motivation were markedly more likely to currently use Tt, compared with those using supplements for other purposes (adjusted OR ≈ 18.5; p = 0.008). Neither sex (p = 0.918) nor age category (p = 0.519) significantly predicted Tt use. Admission of anabolic steroid use was infrequent but was linked to online purchasing from potentially unregulated sources. Conclusions: Tt consumption in fitness settings is driven predominantly by performance-oriented expectations rather than demographic characteristics. The observed discrepancy between consumer beliefs and scientific evidence suggests a pressing need for educational interventions and regulatory vigilance in sports nutrition. Public health policies should focus on improving label literacy, strengthening consumer protection, and countering misinformation within supplement marketing environments.

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