Nootropic Supplements and Exercise: Patterns and Perceptions of Cognitive Enhancer Use in Physically Active Individuals

‘Nootropic’ describes compounds that enhance cognition. Dietary supplement companies leverage this concept as a descriptor for product marketing. Given that half of all American adults, as well as many active individuals, use a dietary supplement, the purpose of this study was to explore nootropic use in physically active individuals. Nootropic use was evaluated via an online survey. Preferred nootropics, dose, frequency, reasons for use, and perceived effects were evaluated. In total, 152 individuals (men n = 86, women n = 64, other n = 2; mean ± SD age = 27.42 ± 7.66) were eligible for analysis. Means, standard deviations, and percentages were determined, and chi-square (χ2) tests of independence were used to determine significant associations related to nootropic type, exercise characteristics, use tendencies, and perceived positive or negative effects (p n = 122), creatine (9.8%, n = 55), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, Omega 3) (7.0%, n = 39), L-theanine and nicotine (both 6.6%, n = 37), and ashwagandha (6.1%, n = 34) the most frequently used. The most common reason for use was to increase energy and motivation (34.8%, n = 81). Those who predominantly engaged in weight training were more likely to use amino acids, peptides, and their derivatives (p p“益智成分（Nootropic）”指可提升认知功能的化合物。膳食补充剂企业常借助这一概念作为产品营销的宣传用语。鉴于全美半数成年人以及众多体力活动活跃人群均会服用膳食补充剂，本研究旨在探究健身活跃人群的益智成分使用情况。本次研究通过线上问卷对益智成分的使用情况进行评估，调研内容涵盖常用益智成分种类、服用剂量、使用频率、使用动机以及主观感知效果。最终共有152名符合分析标准的受试者参与（其中男性86例、女性64例、其他性别2例；平均年龄±标准差为27.42±7.66岁）。研究计算了均值、标准差与百分比，并采用卡方（χ²）独立性检验分析益智成分类型、运动特征、使用倾向与主观感知正负效果之间的显著关联（p<0.05被视为具有统计学显著性）。其中使用频率最高的成分为氨基酸、肽类及其衍生物（80.3%，n=122）、肌酸（9.8%，n=55）、二十二碳六烯酸（DHA，Omega-3，7.0%，n=39）、L-茶氨酸与尼古丁（均为6.6%，n=37）以及南非醉茄（6.1%，n=34）。最常见的使用动机为提升精力与动力（34.8%，n=81）。以力量训练为主要运动方式的人群更倾向于使用氨基酸、肽类及其衍生物（原文统计标注不完整）