The right age for supps.

[thehamme]

Whats an exceptable age to start using supplements?
My 12yr old brother is very talented in sports, like baseball, swimming, football and I was wondering if the use of protein supplments and creatine would be alright to aid in his proformance.
Is he to young?

thanks
thehamme

[YellowJacket]

At 12 years old, you dont need any supplements. If he is weight training, his body can use what he gets from his diet, given he has a decent diet for a 12 year old, to build and repair muscle. I wouldnt advise any supplement, maybe a multi vitamin/mineral of some type.

[rude]

What age is the right time to start experimenting with supplements?

[YellowJacket]

Not so much age as when your body matures enough. Non hormonal supplements can be 'experimented' with about the high school age. This means protein powders, creatine, various vitamins/minerals, fatty oils. At such a young age, your energy and hormones are out of control, so there's no use for pro hormones which could damage the endocrine system and there's no reason for fat burners or stimulants since hopefully, at that age you're a bit active.

I never touched anything in high school, experimented with creatine, but not much happened.