The aisle
Supplements
Creatine, collagen, vitamins and the rest of the aisle, with dated prices and the label in plain sight.
Features
Journal- 5 November 2026 — Wired But Tired? What Magnesium Can (and Can't) Do for Your Sleep and Stress
- 3 November 2026 — Creatine Isn't Just for Gym Bros Any More. Here's Who Should Take It, and Why
From the desk
- Are supplements regulated in South Africa? Rules in 2026
- What supplements cost in South Africa: October 2026 prices
Comparisons
All comparisons- Best Beta-Alanine in South Africa 2026: 6 Products Compared
- Best Citrulline Malate in South Africa 2026: 5 Products Compared
- Best Collagen Powder in South Africa 2026: 10 Products Compared
- Best Creatine in South Africa 2026: 10 Products Compared
- Best Glutamine in South Africa 2026: 8 Products Compared
- Best Magnesium Supplement in South Africa 2026: 7 Products Compared
- Best Multivitamin in South Africa 2026: 7 Products Compared
- Best Omega-3 Fish Oil in South Africa 2026: 9 Products Compared
- Best Pre-Workout in South Africa 2026: 10 Products Compared
Creatine
Department- Are creatine gummies worth it in South Africa?
- Biogen vs USN creatine: which is better in South Africa?
- Can you take creatine while cutting?
- Can you take creatine with coffee or caffeine?
- Creatine monohydrate vs creatine HCl: which is better in South Africa?
- Do South African schools and school rugby allow creatine?
- Do vegetarians and vegans benefit more from creatine?
- Do you need to load creatine?
- Does creatine cause bloating or water retention?
- Does creatine cause hair loss?
- Does creatine damage your kidneys?
- Does creatine expire?
- How can you tell if creatine is fake or diluted?
- How do you mix creatine so it dissolves?
- How much creatine should you take per day?
- How much does creatine cost in South Africa?
- How much weight will you gain on creatine?
- How should you store creatine in South African heat?
- Is ATP Fitness micronised creatine any good in South Africa?
- Is creatine safe and useful for women?
- Is creatine safe for teenagers in South Africa?
- Is creatine useful for runners and cyclists?
- Is micronised creatine better than regular creatine in South Africa?
- Is single-ingredient creatine better than creatine blends?
- Is USN creatine monohydrate any good in South Africa?
- What are the side effects of creatine in South Africa?
- What is Creapure and is it sold in South Africa?
- What is the best creatine for women in South Africa?
- What is the best creatine in South Africa in 2026?
- What is the cheapest creatine per serving in South Africa?
- When is the best time to take creatine?
- Where can you buy creatine in Cape Town?
- Where can you buy creatine in Johannesburg and Pretoria?
- Where is creatine cheapest: Dis-Chem, Clicks or Takealot?
- Will creatine cause a failed drug test in South Africa?
Collagen
Department- Are collagen gummies worth it?
- Can collagen help with menopause skin and bone changes?
- Can you put collagen in hot coffee?
- Collagen peptides vs gelatine: what is the difference?
- Collagen powder vs capsules vs liquid: which is best?
- Do vegan collagen boosters work?
- Do you need vitamin C with collagen?
- Does collagen actually work?
- Does collagen help hair and nails?
- Does collagen help joint pain and tendons?
- Does collagen powder improve skin and wrinkles?
- How much collagen should you take per day?
- How much does collagen powder cost in South Africa?
- Is ATP Fitness hydrolysed collagen any good?
- Is collagen a complete protein?
- Is Collagen Cafe a good collagen brand in South Africa?
- Is collagen halaal in South Africa?
- Is collagen powder safe from heavy metals?
- Is collagen supplementation safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding in South Africa?
- Is collagen useful for runners and athletes in South Africa?
- Is grass-fed collagen worth the extra money in South Africa?
- Marine vs bovine collagen: which is better in South Africa?
- What are the side effects of collagen supplements?
- What is hydrolysed collagen and why is it used?
- What is the best collagen for women in South Africa?
- What is the best collagen powder in South Africa?
- What is the best collagen powder without additives in South Africa?
- What is the best time of day to take collagen?
- What is the cheapest collagen per 10 g dose in South Africa?
- Where can you buy collagen powder in South Africa?
Pre-workout
Department- Can pre-workout cause a failed drug test in South Africa?
- Can teenagers take pre-workout in South Africa?
- Can you build your own pre-workout from single ingredients in South Africa?
- Does pre-workout expire and how should you store it?
- Does pre-workout raise blood pressure?
- How do South African pre-workout brands compare?
- How long before bed should you stop pre-workout?
- How much caffeine is in pre-workout in South Africa?
- Is DMAA banned in South Africa and sport?
- Is pre-workout safe? What do South African doctors say?
- Pre-workout vs coffee: which is better in South Africa?
- What does proprietary blend mean on a pre-workout label?
- What is dry scooping and is it dangerous?
- What is the best pre-workout for women in South Africa?
- What is the best pre-workout in South Africa?
- What is the best stimulant-free pre-workout in South Africa?
- What is the cheapest pre-workout per serving in South Africa?
- What is the right citrulline malate dose?
- When should you take pre-workout?
- Where can you buy pre-workout in South Africa?
- Why does pre-workout cause heart palpitations or anxiety?
- Why does pre-workout make your skin tingle?
Amino acids
Department- Are single amino acid supplements safe for long-term use?
- Arginine vs citrulline: which raises nitric oxide better?
- BCAA vs EAA: which is better in South Africa?
- Citrulline malate vs L-citrulline: which is better?
- Do BCAAs work if you already eat enough protein?
- Do you need a leucine supplement?
- How much beta-alanine should you take and does it work?
- How much do BCAA and EAA supplements cost in South Africa?
- How much does glutamine cost per serving in South Africa?
- How much glutamine should you take a day?
- Is L-carnitine worth taking for fat loss or performance?
- What does glutamine actually do?
- What is the best BCAA supplement in South Africa?
- What is the best beta-alanine in South Africa?
- What is the best citrulline malate in South Africa?
- What is the best EAA supplement in South Africa?
- What is the best glutamine in South Africa?
- Where can you buy glutamine, beta-alanine and citrulline in South Africa?
Vitamins and minerals
Department- Are Dis-Chem and Clicks house-brand vitamins as good as big brands?
- Can you overdose on vitamins and minerals?
- Do multivitamins actually work?
- Do South Africans need vitamin D supplements in summer?
- Do you need a zinc supplement in South Africa?
- Do you need vitamin K2 with vitamin D3?
- Does biotin help hair growth?
- Does magnesium help sleep and muscle cramps?
- Does vitamin C prevent colds?
- Does ZMA work?
- Fish oil vs krill oil vs algae oil: which is best?
- How much does a multivitamin cost in South Africa?
- How much does a vitamin D blood test cost in South Africa?
- How much magnesium should you take per day?
- How much omega-3 should you take?
- How much vitamin B12 do vegans need in South Africa?
- How much vitamin D should I take in South Africa?
- Is ashwagandha safe in South Africa?
- Is melatonin legal over the counter in South Africa?
- Is sunshine enough for vitamin D in Cape Town?
- Magnesium glycinate vs citrate: which is better in South Africa?
- Should runners take iron supplements in South Africa?
- What is the best iron supplement in South Africa?
- What is the best magnesium supplement in South Africa?
- What is the best multivitamin in South Africa?
- What is the best omega-3 fish oil in South Africa?
- What is the best probiotic in South Africa?
- What is the best time to take vitamins and minerals?
- What is the best vitamin D3 supplement in South Africa?
- Which vitamins and minerals do athletes actually need in South Africa?
Safety and regulation
Department- Are energy drinks and pre-workouts restricted for children in South Africa?
- Are expired supplements dangerous?
- Are prohormones in supplements illegal in South Africa?
- Are protein powders contaminated with lead and heavy metals?
- Are SARMs legal in South Africa?
- Are supplements regulated in South Africa?
- Are supplements sold on Takealot genuine?
- Can supplements cause a failed drug test for South African rugby players?
- Can you import supplements into South Africa?
- Do supplements need SAHPRA registration to be sold in South Africa?
- How do you check if a supplement is safe for drug-tested sport in South Africa?
- How do you know if a supplement is halaal or kosher in South Africa?
- How do you report a supplement side effect in South Africa?
- Is 'clinically proven' on a supplement label legal in South Africa?
- What do South African labelling rules say about supplements?
- What does third-party tested mean on a supplement label?
- What health claims can supplements legally make in South Africa?
- What is a proprietary blend and why can it be a red flag?
- What is Informed Sport certification and who has it in South Africa?
- What is SAHPRA Category D?
- What should parents know about supplements for under-18s in South Africa?
- Which supplements and ingredients are banned in South Africa?
- Which supplements are linked to liver injury?
- Which supplements are supported by the AIS and IOC frameworks?
- Which supplements are unsafe with kidney disease in South Africa?
Buying guide
Department- Are supplement subscriptions worth it in South Africa?
- Can you trust supplement advice from gym shop staff in South Africa?
- Dis-Chem vs Clicks vs Takealot: where should you buy supplements?
- How do you choose a protein powder in South Africa?
- How do you compare supplement prices fairly?
- How do you read a supplement label in South Africa?
- How does Healthnews24 compare supplements?
- How should you store supplements in South African summer heat?
- Local vs imported supplements: which should you buy in South Africa?
- What are the best supplement shops in Cape Town?
- What does a clean-label supplement mean?
- What is a sensible supplement stack for R500 a month in South Africa?
- What supplements should a gym beginner buy first in South Africa?
- When are supplements cheapest on Takealot and Black Friday?
- Where can you buy supplements in Johannesburg?
- Where can you safely buy supplements online in South Africa?
- Where is the cheapest place to buy supplements in South Africa?
- Which supplements actually work and which are a waste of money?