Dancers take many supplements, but benefits are often unproven and risks remain unclear

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.