Author(s): CAREY, C., LEWIS, M., DERMODY, C., MACKENZIE, F., MEANEY, O., MCCARTHY, E., Institution: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK, Country: IRELAND, Abstract-ID: 1986

INTRODUCTION:
Supplement use is widespread among athletes seeking performance, recovery and health benefits. However, contamination risk and misalignment with evidence-based recommendations may compromise athlete safety and anti-doping compliance. This study conducted an analysis of sports supplements available on the Irish online market in order to determine the prevalence of third-party testing and alignment with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Supplement Classification Framework as a proxy for the strength of the evidence base underpinning supplement ingredients.

METHODS:
The methodology was designed with systematic review principles where possible to enhance transparency and reproducibility. Four search engines were systematically searched in triplicate in November 2024 using predefined Boolean terms. Searches were conducted on three devices in incognito mode to minimise personalised results. Products marketed for sport or performance and sold in powder, capsule, tablet, gel or liquid (<100 ml) form were included. Micronutrient-only products were excluded. Data were extracted using automated web-scraping and manual verification. Products were cross-referenced against Informed Sport, Informed Choice and Informed Protein databases. AIS classification was assigned based on the lowest graded active ingredient.

RESULTS:
From 818 websites screened, 52 met inclusion criteria. A total of 26,121 products were identified, resulting in 5,256 included products following eligibility and duplicate screening. Powders accounted for 64.5%, capsules or tablets 31.4%, liquids 3.0% and gels 1.1%. The most prevalent categories were amino acid supplements (1,244; 23.7%), protein supplements (956; 18.2%), multi-ingredient pre-workouts (728; 13.9%), creatine (375; 7.1%), hormonal or endocrine support products (301; 5.7%), mixed macronutrient blends (288; 5.5%), electrolytes (266; 5.1%), thermogenic, lipolytic or diuretic type products (233; 4.4%) and carbohydrate supplements (227; 4.3%).
AIS classification identified 1,929 Grade A products (36.7%), 349 Grade B (6.6%), 304 Grade C (5.8%), 298 Grade D (5.7%) and 2,376 not classified (45.2%). Only 250 products (4.8%) were Informed Sport certified and 127 (2.4%) Informed Choice certified. Ten protein supplements (1.0% of protein products) were Informed Protein certified. Few products (91; 1.7%) met combined criteria of AIS Grade A and Informed Sport certification and, where applicable, Informed Protein certified.

CONCLUSION:
Although 36.7% of products were AIS Grade A, third-party batch testing was uncommon. Fewer than 2% met combined evidence-based and contamination risk mitigation criteria. Nearly half of products were not classifiable within AIS framework, reflecting market growth in ingredients with limited performance evidence. These findings demonstrate a disconnect between market availability, evidence-based practice and quality assurance, with implications for health, performance and anti-doping risk management.