The effectiveness of nutritional supplements on certain chemical variables and body composition of physical activity practices for health in Tripoli.

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of dietary supplements on some biochemical variables and body composition among women who practice physical activity in Tripoli. The study started from a field observation of the widespread use of dietary supplements in gyms without sufficient scientific supervision, and the resulting weak nutritional and health awareness, in addition to some problems such as muscle fatigue and poor management of exhaustion The study aimed to identify the effect of dietary supplements on blood indicators, body components, and weight, with a focus on raising the health awareness level of the female participants The researcher used the experimental method with a one-group pre-test/post-test design. The sample included 19 regular female trainees with an average age of 27.8 years and an average weight of 73.97 kg. The experiment was conducted during the period from January to March 2025, during which the researcher monitored the training programs and dietary supplements of the participants. The data were analyzed using SPSS software through means, paired samples t-test, improvement percentage, and effect size according to Cohen The results showed that weight did not change in a statistically significant way, with an improvement rate of 2.5% and a small effect size. For blood variables (CBC), no major differences appeared except for some indicators such as white blood cells and hemoglobin, which recorded a slight improvement. As for body composition (In Body), significant differences were observed in fat mass and body fat percentage, with improvement rates between 2.2% and 2.5% and a medium effect size, while the rest of the variables did not show significant differences. The questionnaire also revealed that most of the participants believed in the effectiveness of protein and carbohydrate supplements in increasing performance and building muscle, while confirming that the supplements used were licensed The study concluded that dietary supplements may contribute to improving some indicators related to body fat, but they do not cause major changes in other chemical variables or body composition. It emphasized the need for scientific guidance to raise the nutritional and health awareness of female trainees, and to regulate the use of supplements to achieve benefits and avoid risks