Creatine and BCAA for children?

[Roman B.]

Hey Jordan, is there evidence that Creatine / BCAA or other useful sports supplements are beneficial to children? If yes, what would be the dosage and the best age to start? If no, is there evidence for the opposite or what would be a reasonable approach here (given the absence of evidence), and why?

I've noticed that BCAAs help when a child gets ill.

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

I've seen some safety data on creatine in the pediatric population as well as performance improvements in young adolescents, but not less than about 10. I probably wouldn't give them to my kid <12ish for the same reason I would't have him or her formally train (exclusively) with weights- they need to just be a kid and as far as athletics go...that means playing everything they even have a remote interest in.

[Roman B.]

Thank you, Jordan, much appreciated! The minimal age is a very useful number.