A Parent's Guide to Creatine: Is It Safe for a 14, 16, or 18-Year-Old Athlete?

The internet is saturated with advice that creatine is one of the safest, most effective supplements available. Creators rightfully point to hundreds of studies to debunk myths for a general adult audience. However, this broad reassurance creates a significant disconnect for parents. Their primary concern isn't a 30-year-old lifter; it's their developing child. A parent's calculus involves unknown long-term effects on growth, hormones, and organ systems that are still maturing. The generalized "it's safe" message fails to address these specific, high-stakes parental anxieties, leaving them to navigate a decision where the potential risks feel magnified and expert guidance for their child's specific age group is almost nonexistent.

The core concern for parents is the unknown long-term impact on a developing body. Will a supplement that's safe for a fully grown adult interfere with adolescent growth plates, hormonal development, or place undue stress on maturing kidneys? This fear is heightened by misinformation from sources like school nurses or misinformed family members who label creatine as "poison" or a "steroid". Parents of young athletes, in particular, worry about fostering a "win-at-all-costs" mentality and whether supplements are a shortcut that undermines a foundation of solid nutrition and training.

Before allowing a teenager to start creatine, especially those under 18, the most critical step is a consultation with a pediatrician or a sports medicine doctor. While some evidence suggests safety in older adolescent athletes, the data is less robust for younger teens. A medical professional can assess your child's specific health, developmental stage, and athletic demands to provide a personalized recommendation.

The topic of creatine for teenagers is a massive content gap, with most creators either ignoring it or addressing it only peripherally, leaving a flood of questions from concerned parents and curious teens in their comment sections.

• ATHLEAN-X (Jeff Cavaliere): This is the only video that comes close to addressing the topic directly. While much of the video is a skit, Jeff Cavaliere states that "21% of males in high school right now are taking creatine and 3% of females". He frames this in the context of it being a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) supplement. However, this is a statement of prevalence, not a direct recommendation or safety guideline for specific ages. The comment reports confirm a huge unmet need, with parents asking for guidance for their 15 and 16-year-old sons.
• Jeremy Ethier: Jeremy Ethier acknowledges the "rising popularity amongst high school lifters and athletes" but does not provide any age-specific safety guidelines in his video. His comment section is a clear indicator of this gap, filled with questions from teens aged 14, 16, and older asking if it's safe for them to start.
• Renaissance Periodization (Dr. Mike Israetel): Dr. Mike makes a joke about a mother refusing to buy her 15-year-old son creatine because she thinks it's poison, but he doesn't offer any direct advice for that age group. The comment section is populated with direct questions from 16-year-old athletes and others asking about age and dosage. He does advise that beginners probably don't need creatine, which could indirectly apply to many young lifters.
• Jeff Nippard: The video content does not address teenagers. This is a significant omission, as his comment report is filled with questions from 14 and 17-year-olds asking if and when they should start taking it.
• Myprotein & Dr. Sten Ekberg: Neither of these videos provides guidance for teenagers. Their comment sections, however, show a clear demand for this information, with parents and teens as young as 13 asking for advice.

• "Is it safe tho..for a 18/19 year old gym rat?".
• "What about teenageres ? Is it safe?".
• "Just ordered your creatine is it okay that I take it at 14 years old".
• "I’m 17 and have been working out since I was 13. Is this the time I start using creatine or should I wait or not take it at all? HELP!".
• "whats a safe age for a teenage male to start taking creatine?".
• "Can my 13 year old boy use creatine?".
• "i just started going to the gym like 2 and a half weeks ago. i’m 16 at 5’6 125 lbs and a male. should i start creatine if i want a jump start towards muscle growth and strength".

Sit down with your teenager and watch one of the more comprehensive videos together (like ATHLEAN-X's). Use it as a conversation starter to discuss their goals, your concerns, and to agree that the next step is talking to a doctor together before any supplements are purchased.

• Mistake: An outright, unexplained ban. This often leads to teens taking it in secret without proper guidance.
  Fix: Engage in an open conversation. Explaining your concerns and involving them in a research process (that includes a doctor) is far more effective.
• Mistake: Assuming creatine is a steroid or dangerous drug. This undermines your credibility when your teen's research shows otherwise.
  Fix: Educate yourself on what it actually is — a well-studied supplement, not a pharmaceutical. Acknowledge the science and focus your concerns on the lack of long-term data for their specific age group.
• Mistake: Allowing a young teen (13-15) to start just because their friends are.
  Fix: Hold the line that foundational nutrition and training are non-negotiable prerequisites. For younger teens, the answer should almost always be "not yet."

While creatine is proven safe for adults, the question is far more complex for teenagers. The top fitness creators have largely failed to provide specific, responsible guidance for this demographic, leaving a critical information gap for concerned parents. For older teens (17-18+) who are serious athletes with excellent nutrition and training habits, a low dose of creatine monohydrate may be appropriate after a thorough discussion with a sports medicine physician. For younger teens, the lack of long-term data means the most prudent answer is to focus on mastering the fundamentals of diet, training, and recovery first.