Vitamin D improves strength and reduces injuries in dancers, while iron lowers anemia prevalenceDancers take many supplements, but benefits are often unproven and risks remain unclear

Frontiers in Medicine Published June 4, 2026 DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

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Key Takeaway

Consider the limited evidence on supplement effects in dancers before routine use.

This is a systematic review examining the prevalence and effects of dietary supplement and medication use among professional and pre-professional dancers. The review synthesized findings from a sample of 654 female and 86 male dancers, reporting that supplement use prevalence ranged from 11% to 57% and analgesic or NSAID use was reported by up to 90% of dancers.

The authors noted positive associations for specific substances: vitamin D was linked to improved isometric strength, jump performance, and reduced injury incidence; iron was associated with decreased anemia prevalence; and folic acid was linked to enhanced endothelial function. Whey protein and creatine increased lean mass but showed mixed effects on performance.

Key limitations acknowledged include limited evidence of benefits, potential health risks, heterogeneity of use, and the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials. The authors emphasize that findings are associations from included studies, not causal claims.

Practice relevance is restrained; pharmacological and nutritional substance use among dancers is widespread yet heterogeneous, with limited evidence of benefits and potential health risks.

Professional and pre-professional dancers often rely on dietary supplements and medications to stay strong and heal from injuries. A recent review looked at what 654 female and 86 male dancers were taking and found that supplement use was very common, ranging from 11 percent to 57 percent of the group. Many dancers also reported using painkillers, with some taking them up to 90 percent of the time. The review found that vitamin D might help improve strength and jump performance while reducing injury rates. Iron supplements appeared to lower the rate of anemia, and folic acid seemed to support blood vessel function. However, whey protein and creatine increased muscle mass without consistently improving how dancers performed. Pain medication use was widespread among the group. The review noted that the evidence for these benefits is limited and that the data came from different studies with varying quality. There is a need for better, high-quality trials to confirm these findings and ensure safety.

What this means for you:

Dancers use many supplements, but benefits are limited and risks need more study.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedJun 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

IntroductionProfessional and pre-professional dancers experience exceptional physical demands and an increased risk of injuries and health concerns, often leading to the use of medication and dietary supplements.ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of dietary supplement and medication utilization among professional and pre-professional dancers and their effects on performance, health outcomes, and dance-related pathologies.MethodsThis systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251000872). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to April 2025. Eligible studies included professional or pre-professional dancers using dietary supplements or medication with potential therapeutic or ergogenic effects. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessments were performed independently by two reviewers using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and JBI tools.ResultsA total of 22 studies were included (12 observational, 6 randomized controlled and 4 non-randomized interventions) involving 654 female and 86 male dancers from various disciplines. Supplement use ranged from 11 to 57%, with multivitamins, vitamin C, caffeine, and isotonic beverages most frequently consumed. Vitamin D improved isometric strength, jump performance, and reduced injury incidence. Iron decreased anemia prevalence, while folic acid enhanced endothelial function. Whey protein and creatine increased lean mass without consistent performance benefits. Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication were reported by up to 90% of dancers.ConclusionPharmacological and nutritional substances use among dancers is widespread yet heterogeneous, with limited evidence of benefits and potential health risks. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish evidence-based guidelines for safe and effective use in dance populations.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251000872, CRD420251000872.

Vitamin D improves strength and reduces injuries in dancers, while iron lowers anemia prevalenceDancers take many supplements, but benefits are often unproven and risks remain unclear

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Vitamin D improves strength and reduces injuries in dancers, while iron lowers anemia prevalenceDancers take many supplements, but benefits are often unproven and risks remain unclear

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