Should school athletes take supplements in South Africa?

How common is supplement use in school sport?

A 2022 scoping review in the South African Journal of Sports Medicine (Harmse and Noorbhai) pulled together five surveys of South African high school rugby players. It found reported supplement use of roughly 30% to 54%, with protein the most common (31% to 79% across studies) and creatine used by 16% to 37%. The main information sources were the internet (74%) and magazines (72%); only 4% cited a dietitian in one study. One survey found 84% of players felt pressure to use supplements.

Why is the advice conservative?

• Contamination and doping. Athletes are strictly liable for what is in their bodies under the World Anti-Doping Code, adopted in South Africa through SAIDS. SAIDS notes that third-party testing reduces but does not remove risk, and its leaflet recommends against supplements for performance in under-18s. SAIDS reported 6 steroid positives from 122 tests at the 2018 Craven Week, a reminder of the wider doping culture.
• Food covers most needs. Teenagers rarely need powders if meals are adequate.
• Limited safety data. Studies of many ingredients are in adults. ISSN considers creatine acceptable for serious, supervised adolescent athletes eating a balanced diet, but food-first and professional oversight are prudent.
• Marketing pressure. Stimulant pre-workouts, fat burners and "mass" products are heavily advertised to teens.

What should school athletes do instead?

1. Eat enough. Three meals plus two or three snacks, with a protein source each time. Examples: 2 large eggs (about 12 g protein), a glass of milk (about 8 g), a palm-sized portion of chicken or fish (20 to 30 g).
2. Fuel training and matches with carbohydrate: rice, pap, bread, potatoes, fruit.
3. Drink water and eat salty food after heavy sessions.
4. Sleep and manage training load.
5. See a registered dietitian or sports doctor if you struggle to gain weight, are growing fast or have a very heavy schedule.

What if a parent or coach still wants a product?

• Involve a doctor or registered dietitian first.
• Choose a single-ingredient product from a reputable maker; avoid stimulant pre-workouts, fat burners, testosterone boosters and "proprietary blends".
• Check any "tested" claim on the scheme's own register; SAIDS endorses no brand. Our guide to Informed Sport explains what the logo means.
• Never use a product your child cannot show you the label for, and keep the batch number.

For related questions see can teenagers take whey protein, is creatine safe for teenagers and supplements for rugby players.

When to see a doctor

Any young athlete with unexplained weight loss, fatigue, frequent injury or an eating disorder concern, or who takes medication, should see a doctor before changing their diet or taking supplements. Kidney disease, allergies and asthma medication need individual advice.