re: For parents with teenage sons taking supplements for athletics.

We talked with the doctor and he basically punted the ball back to us to make the choice. His response "short-term use of creatine and athletes are actively working out has not been shown to cause any major issues I am aware of. He should continue to hydrate well. Creatinine should not be taken when he is not active or well-hydrated. However overall this is an over-the-counter medication that is truly a parental decision"

As others have said supplements are not regulated, so I would be careful where you buy the creatine.

"Although reports have indicated that short-term use of creatine is generally safe for adults, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that few studies have looked at the long-term safety of creatine use by teens. Doctors and most medical societies usually recommend creatine be used only by athletes over 18 years old."

We said no to our 15-year old son.