Dietary supplement and medication use in professional and pre-professional dancers: widespread use but limited evidence of benefit-a systematic review.

TL;DR

Professional and pre-professional dancers use supplements and medications at high rates (11-57% for supplements, up to 90% for pain medication), but evidence supporting their use remains limited. Only Vitamin D shows consistent benefits for strength and injury reduction .

What the study found

A systematic review of 22 studies involving 740 dancers across multiple disciplines examined which supplements and medications dancers actually use and whether they work. The findings paint a picture of a population reaching for interventions out of necessity, but often without robust evidence backing those choices.

Supplement use was surprisingly common. Multivitamins topped the list, followed by vitamin C, caffeine, and isotonic beverages. Between 11% and 57% of dancers in various studies reported taking supplements, suggesting that supplement use is normalized in dance communities. The variability in prevalence likely reflects differences in dance discipline, training intensity, and access to guidance on supplementation. What stands out is not just that dancers use supplements, but which ones appear to have actual research support.

Vitamin D emerged as the supplement with the clearest evidence base. In dancers studied, vitamin D improved isometric strength, enhanced jump performance, and reduced injury incidence. This aligns with broader evidence in athletic populations, where vitamin D status correlates with musculoskeletal function and injury risk. For dancers, whose performance depends on both explosive power and structural integrity, this represents a meaningful finding. Iron also showed concrete benefits: it decreased anemia prevalence in dancers, a concern given the energy demands and sometimes restricted eating patterns in dance communities. Folate enhanced endothelial function in the studies reviewed, though the practical performance implications are less direct than with vitamin D.

Other commonly used supplements showed mixed or limited evidence. Whey protein and creatine both increased lean muscle mass in the studies examined, which might seem like an advantage for dancers. However, increased muscle mass does not consistently translate to improved dance performance or reduced injury rates in the reviewed literature. This gap between tissue-level changes and functional outcomes is important: dancers need movement quality and efficiency, not necessarily maximum muscle mass. Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications tell a different story. Up to 90% of dancers in some studies reported using these, suggesting either high injury rates or normalization of pain management in the culture. The review did not find strong evidence supporting the long-term safety or efficacy of this pattern of use, and chronic NSAID use carries known risks.

The heterogeneity of supplement use across studies was striking. Different dancers took different substances at different doses for different durations. This variability suggests that supplement strategies in dance communities are not evidence-based but rather driven by peer influence, coach recommendations, or individual experimentation. The review identified this as a critical gap: high-quality randomized controlled trials specifically in dancer populations are largely absent.

What this means for you

If you are a dancer, the evidence suggests a targeted rather than blanket approach to supplementation. Vitamin D has the strongest case, particularly if you have limited sun exposure or live at high latitude. Getting your vitamin D status checked via a 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test can guide whether supplementation is necessary. Iron is worth considering only if you are anemic or at high risk (which some female dancers are due to menstrual losses and energy availability), and ideally after a blood test confirms low iron status.

For whey protein and creatine, the evidence of benefit to dance-specific performance is weak in the reviewed studies. Meeting protein needs through whole foods remains a valid approach, though if you use supplements, the muscle-building effect is consistent, even if performance gains are unclear.

The finding that up to 90% of dancers use pain medication is concerning and suggests that addressing injury prevention and recovery holistically may be more valuable than medication use. This might include consistent resistance training to build resilience, proper sleep duration, hydration, and potentially working with a sports medicine provider or physical therapist rather than relying on over-the-counter pain management as a substitute for addressing underlying issues.

Do not assume that because something is widely used in your dance community it is evidence-based. Ask for the evidence. If a coach or peer recommends a supplement, request studies supporting its use. The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but it is a signal to be cautious with your body and your money.

Study details

Sources

Systematic review registered in PROSPERO: CRD420251000872

PubMed link: 42325513