# What should parents know about supplements for under-18s in South Africa?

Source: https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/supplements-under-18-what-parents-should-know-south-africa/
Publisher: Healthnews24 (South Africa's supplement answer desk)
Updated: 2026-10-27

> Food first. South African experts, including SAIDS and BokSmart, advise against performance supplements for under-18s, and avoiding stimulants, fat burners, pre-workouts and testosterone boosters is essential. Research on high-school rugby players found 30–54% used supplements, mostly protein, and only 4% consulted a dietitian. If your child's diet is lacking, see a paediatric or sports dietitian.

Key facts:
- Scoping review of five SA studies (data 2009–2016): 30–54% of high-school rugby players used supplements; protein 31–79%, creatine 16–37%.
- Only 4% of players in one study consulted a dietitian; 60% in another believed supplements would not cause a positive test.
- SAIDS recommends against supplements for performance in under-18s; BokSmart advises food first.
- A 15-year-old tested positive for SARMs in 2020 and received a four-year ban from the Independent Doping Tribunal.

## How common is supplement use among South African teenagers?

A scoping review of supplement use among high-school rugby players in South Africa (five cross-sectional surveys with data from 2009 to 2016, ages 15 to 18) found:

- Overall use of **30% to 54%**.
- **Protein** was the most used (31% to 79% across studies), followed by carbohydrate products and **creatine** (16% to 37%).
- One study reported 3.9% using banned substances and another reported anabolic steroid use in some respondents.
- The main information sources were the internet, magazines, friends and coaches; only **4%** consulted a dietitian in one study.
- In one study 60% believed supplements would not cause a positive doping test, and 14% of under-16 players said they would consider a banned substance if unlikely to be caught.

The review covered mainly three provinces and older data, but the pattern (performance pressure, little professional advice) is the concern.

## What do SA experts advise?

SAIDS and SA Rugby's BokSmart programme emphasise food first for school-age athletes. SAIDS recommends against supplements for performance in under-18s. SAIDS has also noted a "win at all costs" culture and says parental and coach tolerance of doping is a problem. Craven Week has produced steroid positives almost every year (3 in 2014, 5 in 2015, 4 in 2016, 3 in 2017 and 6 from 122 tests in 2018). In a 2020 case a 15-year-old tested positive for SARMs and received a four-year ban ([SARMs explained](/answers/what-are-sarms-and-are-they-legal-south-africa/)).

## Which supplements are riskiest?

| Avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| Stimulant pre-workouts and fat burners | Heart rate, anxiety, sleep and contamination ([pre-workouts for teens](/answers/can-teenagers-take-pre-workout-south-africa/)) |
| "Testosterone boosters", prohormones, SARMs | Banned or high contamination risk (AIS Group D); health risks |
| Mass gainers as a routine | Excess sugar and calories; large servings multiply contaminants |
| Any product with a "proprietary blend" | Unknown amounts and ingredients |

## Are any supplements acceptable?

Food should cover most needs: eggs, dairy, lean meat, fish, legumes, fruit, vegetables and starchy carbohydrates. A dietitian may recommend a protein powder when appetite or budget makes food targets hard, or creatine for a serious, supervised adolescent athlete. The ISSN considers creatine acceptable in that situation, but food-first and coach and doctor oversight are prudent ([creatine for teenagers](/answers/is-creatine-safe-for-teenagers-south-africa/), [whey for teenagers](/answers/can-teenagers-take-whey-protein-south-africa/)). If a teenager competes in tested school sport, contamination and strict liability apply to them as well.

## What should parents do?

1. **Ask why** the child wants a supplement: performance, body image or peer pressure. Body-image concerns need a conversation and possibly professional support, not a tub.
2. **See a paediatric or sports dietitian** for a food plan before buying anything.
3. **Never buy products promising fast muscle or fat loss**, and remember that SAIDS and SAHPRA do not approve supplements ([regulation overview](/answers/are-supplements-regulated-in-south-africa/)).
4. **Check with the school or union** about their supplement and doping policies ([school sport supplements](/answers/supplements-for-schoolboy-sport-south-africa/)).
5. **Watch for warning signs**: rapid unexplained muscle gain, acne, mood changes, secrecy about products. Speak to your doctor.

Healthnews24 does not recommend specific products for under-18s. If an adult professional prescribes one, a single-ingredient product from a transparent maker is lower risk than a multi-ingredient blend.

## Sources

- [Sport supplement use among high school rugby players in South Africa: a scoping review (South African Journal of Sports Medicine)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9924539)
- [SAIDS (2020) Supplements leaflet](https://drugfreesport.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Supplements-Leaflet-2020-web.pdf)
- [BokSmart (SA Rugby): Introduction to supplements](https://boksmart.sarugby.co.za/media/yrejyptd/introduction-to-supplements.pdf)
- [SAIDS: SARMs, what athletes need to know](https://drugfreesport.org.za/?p=18192)
- [Kreider RB et al. (2017) ISSN position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. JISSN](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5469049/)