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).
Which supplements are riskiest?
| Avoid | Why |
|---|
| Stimulant pre-workouts and fat burners | Heart rate, anxiety, sleep and contamination (pre-workouts for teens) |
| "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, whey for teenagers). If a teenager competes in tested school sport, contamination and strict liability apply to them as well.
What should parents do?
- 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.
- See a paediatric or sports dietitian for a food plan before buying anything.
- Never buy products promising fast muscle or fat loss, and remember that SAIDS and SAHPRA do not approve supplements (regulation overview).
- Check with the school or union about their supplement and doping policies (school sport supplements).
- 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.
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.