Creatine is a compound naturally produced in the body and found in foods like meat and fish. It is widely used as a dietary supplement, primarily by athletes, to enhance strength, improve exercise performance, and increase lean muscle mass. There is generally no federal or state minimum legal age requirement to buy this supplement. This absence of restriction stems from its classification under federal law, which treats it differently from controlled substances like alcohol or tobacco.
Legal Status and Purchasing Age
The regulatory status of creatine in the United States is defined by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Under this act, creatine is categorized as a dietary supplement, not a drug or a controlled substance. This classification means it does not undergo the rigorous pre-market testing and approval process required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prescription medications. Supplements are treated more similarly to food products than to age-restricted items like tobacco or firearms. The DSHEA framework focuses on post-market safety, meaning the FDA can only take action to remove a supplement if it is proven unsafe after introduction to the market.
Retailer Policies and Practical Restrictions
Despite the lack of a federal or state-mandated minimum age, buying creatine often involves age restrictions imposed by individual sellers. Many manufacturers voluntarily include a warning stating the supplement is “not recommended for use under the age of 18.” Retailers often adopt this recommendation as an internal policy to protect themselves from liability. This means stores and online vendors may require purchasers to be 16 or 18 years old and may enforce this with an ID check.
Some states have begun implementing specific legislation that restricts the sale of certain supplements to minors. New York State, for instance, prohibits the sale of weight-loss or muscle-building supplements to individuals under 18, which includes creatine if marketed with such claims. In these instances, a retailer is legally required to verify the consumer’s age, often involving identification. Online purchases in these areas can also be complicated, sometimes requiring an adult signature upon delivery. These policies create a patchwork of restrictions that vary based on the store, the state, and the product’s marketing claims.
Medical Guidance for Creatine Use in Adolescents
While minors can often purchase creatine, major medical and athletic organizations strongly advise against its use by those under 18. This caution stems from the significant gap in scientific knowledge regarding the long-term effects of supplementation on developing bodies. Research on creatine’s safety and efficacy has been conducted predominantly on adult populations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommend that teenagers avoid using performance-enhancing supplements like creatine.
One primary concern is the potential impact on organ systems that are still maturing, particularly the kidneys. Creatine is metabolized into creatinine, a waste product filtered by the kidneys, and while supplementation has not been shown to harm healthy adult kidneys, the long-term consequences for a young, still-developing renal system are not fully understood. Furthermore, there is a lack of data on how creatine supplementation might affect hormonal balance and the fusion of growth plates in adolescents. Most performance gains in younger athletes can be achieved through optimized nutrition and proper training techniques, making the potential risks of supplement use unnecessary.
Medical professionals also express concern that supplement use may encourage a dependence on quick fixes rather than focusing on fundamental athletic development. If a minor insists on using creatine, it should only be done under the strict supervision of a healthcare provider or a sports medicine specialist. This oversight ensures proper dosage, monitors for any adverse effects, and confirms the athlete does not have any underlying medical conditions.