A novel research presented at American Psychological Association’s annual convention has highlighted about the side effects of dietary supplements. The research gas suggested that increased intake of workout supplements is affecting men’s health.

Study’s co-author Richard Achiro from California School of Professional Psychology said, “Body conscious men who are driven by psychological factors to attain a level of physical or masculine perfection are prone to use these supplements and drugs in a manner that is excessive”.

In the study, 195 men aged between 18 and 65 were enrolled. The researchers examined the participants, who used to go to gym at least twice a week. These men had consumed performance enhancing supplements over the last month.

The researchers asked them to fill an online survey. It included questions related to their eating habits, use of supplements and their own perception of an attractive body. After conducting the survey, the researchers said that 40% of the men increased their intake of dietary supplements over the time.

There were 22% of men who had used dietary supplements in place of regular meals and 29% of them were found to be concerned about their increased use of supplements. Owing to the potential side effects of the supplements, 8% of the men were asked to cut the use of them and 3% suffered from liver and kidney problems due to increased due to supplements.

Achiro said that with time, legal supplements are increasingly available across the globe. Therefore, it is even more important to assess and treat the psychological causes and effects of them.