Table 4.

Relative percentage of congruent answers by 'ability to train longer' and 'doctors' advice' as rationale for supplement use and supplement used by all athletes who reported the use of nutritional supplements (n = 520)

		Able to train longer				Doctors' advice
		Yes		No		Yes		No
Creatine	Yes	51	73.9%	137	30.4%
	No	18	26.1%	314	69.6%
		69	100.0%	451	100.0%
Iron	Yes					64	50.8%	91	23.1%
	No					62	49.2%	303	76.9%
						126	100.0%	394	100.0%
Ginseng	Yes	10	14.5%	33	7.3%
	No	59	85.5%	418	92.7%
		69a	100.0%	451a	100.0%
Whey protein	Yes	41	59.4%	118	26.2%
	No	28	40.6%	333	73.8%
		69	100.0%	451	100.0%
Caffeine	Yes	33	47.8%	91	20.2%
	No	36	52.2%	360	79.8%
		69	100.0%	451	100.0%
Vitamin C	Yes	53	76.8%	313	69.4%	89	70.6%	277	70.3%
	No	16	23.2%	138	30.6%	37	29.4%	117	29.7%
		69	100.0%	451	100.0%	126	100.0%	394	100.0%

^a expected association from anecdotal effect.