Evaluation of Probiotic Food Knowledge and Consumption Status of Sports Science Faculty Students

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge levels and consumption habits regarding probiotic foods among students of the Faculty of Sport Sciences. The study included 217 male and 173 female university students enrolled in the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Balıkesir University. A five-question survey was developed by reviewing the scientific literature relevant to the study's objectives for data collection. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS program. The distribution of responses to the survey questions was examined through frequency and percentage analysis, and the relationships between the responses were assessed using chi-square analysis. No significant differences were found between participants' knowledge levels and consumption of probiotic-enriched foods concerning variables such as gender, type of sport, department, year of study, and national status (p>0.05). However, when the perceived benefits of probiotic foods were examined, a significant difference was observed in favor of individual athletes according to the variable of sports discipline (p<0.05). In conclusion, while no general differences were found in the knowledge and consumption habits regarding probiotic foods among the participants, the perceived benefits were associated with the type of sport, particularly favoring individual athletes.