Health, fitness and the supplement aisle. An independent South African desk.
Amino acids · Answer
At the doses studied, single amino acids such as glutamine, beta-alanine and citrulline are well tolerated by healthy adults, but long-term (multi-year) safety trials are lacking, so safety is dose-dependent and not proven forever. People with kidney or liver disease, pregnancy or regular medication in South Africa should speak to a doctor first, because these products are sold unregistered.
For healthy adults at normal doses, the short answer is "well tolerated in the trials we have". The caveat is that most trials last weeks to months, not years. We did not find long-term safety trials of daily glutamine, beta-alanine or citrulline, so safety beyond those timeframes rests on absence of reported harm, not proof.
| Amino acid | Typical dose | Main safety points |
|---|---|---|
| Glutamine | 5 g retail serving | Well tolerated in healthy adults. Liver disease (risk of hepatic encephalopathy), certain cancers and anticonvulsant therapy need medical advice. |
| Beta-alanine | 4–6 g a day, split | Harmless tingling above about 800 mg in one dose; no serious adverse effects at recommended doses; limited data in pregnancy and under-18s. |
| Citrulline malate | 6–8 g | Occasional mild stomach upset. May add to the effects of nitrates, PDE5 inhibitors and blood-pressure medicines. |
Some South African labels set their own ceilings. Biogen's pages suggest about 1 g beta-alanine per serving with a 3 g daily limit, and a limit of 4.8 g L-citrulline per day. Follow the label and your clinician's advice.
Healthy kidneys handle normal and high protein intakes; high-protein diets have not been shown to harm kidneys in healthy people. But anyone with chronic kidney disease should follow medical advice on protein, and amino acid powders add to the protein and nitrogen load. If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor or dietitian before using any amino powder. See supplements and kidney disease, is whey safe for kidneys and does creatine damage kidneys.
As of October 2026, there is no pre-market registration for sports supplements sold as foodstuffs with compliant labels. Dis-Chem pages for single amino acids classify them as Category D complementary medicines and say they are unregistered and not evaluated by SAHPRA. The legal boundary between food and "health supplement" remains unsettled after a 2022 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling, and SAHPRA had registered no complementary medicines by August 2026. Not registered does not mean illegal, but it does mean no regulator has reviewed the product.
For product choices, see best glutamine and best beta-alanine.
| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per 5 g | R per 3.2 g | R per 6 g | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen L-Glutamine 200 g | 200 g | R255 (Dis-Chem (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | — | R6.37 | — | — | not stated |
| Biogen Beta Alanine Powder Unflavoured 250 g | 250 g | R220 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | — | R2.82 | — | not stated |
| Biogen L-Citrulline Malate Powder Unflavoured 250 g | 250 g | R330 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | — | — | R7.92 | not stated |
Educational information, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease. Prices were observed in October 2026 and are not offers.