Differences were assessed SCH772984 in vivo by one-way ANOVA test, Kruskall-Wallis, chi-square test or exact test of Fisher when appropriate. The associations between the variables under examination were evaluated using contingency tables. Statistical significance was set at P values ≤ 0.05. Results Demographics 207 questionnaires were collected at the end of the survey period representing 80 females and 127 males. Table 1 summarizes the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. The average age of the surveyed subjects was 26.3 ± 9.1

yrs. Almost a quarter (23.7%) had attended eight years in the primary and secondary education and 21.3% had graduated from universities (≥ 13 years of education). The majority of the subjects were males (61.4%) and attended gym for one to five years (47.0%). Their job type was self categorized as sedentary (12.1%), requires standing (34.8%), manual work selleck chemical (27.1%) and heavy manual work (26.1%). The frequency of their strength training was one to two hours, three to five times per week. Table 1 Demographic and lifestyle characteristics of participants, Palermo, Italy   Subjects   Number Percentage Age (yr)        < 18 23 11.1%    18-30 136 65.7%    > 30 48 23.2% Mean (SD) 26,3 ± 9,1 yr Education (yr)        ≤5 2 1.0%

   8 49 23.7%    13 112 54.1%    > 13 44 21.3% Gender †     Female 80 38.6% Male 127 61.4% Body mass index        < 25 kg/m2 149 71.9%    25 ≤ 30 kg/m2 51 24.6%    ≥ 30 kg/m2 7 3.5% Activity at work     Heavy manual work 54 26.1% Manual work 56 27.1% Standing 72 34.8% Sedentary 25 12.1% Recreational activity     Yes 93 44.9% No 114 55.1% Supplement use Participants were asked to acknowledge the type and frequency of use of all

Liothyronine Sodium the Selleckchem MI-503 supplements they were consuming at the time of the survey. The majority of the subjects reported they didn’t take any dietary supplement (69.9%). When data were compared by gender, men appeared to be more likely to use protein supplements than women (34.1% v 23.8% respectively; P = 0.06). The use of supplements was lasting 2.6 ± 3.3 years without reaching a significant difference between genders. Preferred types of supplements and protein packaging by frequency of use are described in Table 2. Whey protein shakes (50.0%) in association with creatine and amino acids (48.3%) up to seven times per week (24.2%) was the most frequently consumed supplement (Table 2). Table 2 Frequency and type of supplements used among participants   Subjects   Number Percentage Supplements use     No 145 69.9% Yes 62 30.1% Users of supplement by gender     Male 43 34.1% Female 19 23.8% Frequency of use     1 time per wk 8 12.9% 2 times per wk 5 8.1% 3 times per wk 13 21.0% 4 times per wk 11 17.7% 5 times per wk 9 14.5% 6 times per wk 1 1.6% 7 times per wk 15 24.2% Protein supplements     Whey protein shakes 31 50.0% Egg protein shakes 15 24.1% Protein bars 12 19.3% Protein Gel 1 1.6% Protein shake blends 3 4.8% Other supplements*     Multivitamin/mineral 3 4.