Health, fitness and the supplement aisle. An independent South African desk.
Pre-workout · Answer
A proprietary blend lists several ingredients under one brand name with a single combined weight, so the dose of each ingredient is hidden. You cannot tell whether caffeine, citrulline or beta-alanine are present at studied amounts. In South Africa, favour pre-workouts that print every dose, such as Biogen Premium Pre-Workout, and be wary of labels that say "high in stimulants" without a caffeine figure.
A proprietary blend groups ingredients under a trade name ("pump matrix", "energy complex") and shows only the combined weight of the group. Ingredients are normally listed from largest to smallest, but the label does not say whether the largest is 5 g or 50 mg. R146, the labelling regulation in force in South Africa as of October 2026, requires an ingredient list. We could not confirm a rule that forces per-ingredient doses on a sports-supplement label.
As published on retailer and brand pages we read in October 2026 (the physical tub may show more):
| Product | Doses published online |
|---|---|
| Biogen Premium Pre-Workout 600 g (R399.99–R429.99, Dis-Chem Living Fit) | Per Biogen's article: caffeine 150 mg, beta-alanine 3.5 g, citrulline malate 4 g, creatine 3 g, BCAAs 7 g, glutamine 2.5 g |
| USN Qhush Platinum Black 300 g (R489.99–R499, USN shop) | Full doses on USN's global page (caffeine 300 mg, citrulline malate 6 g, beta-alanine 4 g); not confirmed for the South African 300 g tub |
| Biogen Rage Rampage 400 g (R539.99) | Most doses per roughly 20 g serving; caffeine present, mg not stated |
| NPL Blackout 400 g (R599.99) | "High in Stimulants"; no caffeine figure or doses on the Dis-Chem page |
| Evox Alpha Pre-Surge Extreme 400 g (R249.95) | Blends named, no amounts on the retailer page |
Biogen's Informed Sport statement is a seller claim; we did not check the certificate.
Under-18s, people who are pregnant, and anyone with high blood pressure, a heart-rhythm problem or kidney disease, or who takes regular medication, should speak to a doctor first (see pre-workout and blood pressure). Drug-tested athletes should read pre-workout banned substances before buying any multi-ingredient product. For ranked options, see best pre-workout in South Africa.
| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Premium Pre-Workout 600 g | 600 g | R399.99-R429.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | — | not stated |
| USN Qhush Platinum Black Pre-Workout 300 g | 300 g | R489.99-R499 (USN online shop, 2026-10) | — | — | Acesulfame-K and sucralose (global page) |
| Biogen Rage Rampage Pre-Workout 400 g | 400 g | R540 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | R27.00 | Sucralose |
| NPL Blackout Pre-Workout 400 g | 400 g | R600 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | — | R30.00 | Sucralose |
| Evox Alpha Pre-Surge Extreme Super-C Orange 400 g | 400 g | R250 (Dis-Chem Living Fit (Living Fit shop), 2026-10) | — | — | 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.