What is Creatine?

Posted November 15, 2024 in Product Reviews, Supplements 21 Comments »

Do you often wonder exactly what is creatine? We see this supplement everywhere. Millions of athletes use it since it is a safe and legal performance enhancer. But where does creatine come from? What does it do?

Creatine is made up of the amino acids arginine, glycine, and L-methionine, which are synthesized in the liver and kidneys. Some creatine is obtained naturally from meat and fish in the diet, particularly those containing high levels such as beef, tuna, and herring though some are destroyed when meat is cooked. An average human has approximately 120 grams of creatine in the body at any one time and this is broken down into creatinine at the rate of 2 grams a day and excreted by the kidneys.

At the most, athletes usually use doses of 3-5 grams of creatine supplements a day. This seems to be the most effective, maintainable regimen. Now let’s take a look at what creatine is and why you might consider using it.

Functions of Creatine

Creatine is stored in the body’s muscles and is used to produce energy for muscle contraction. During exercise muscle contraction and relaxation require energy. This is obtained when adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is broken down into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in a process called dephosphorylation. The free energy that is released can then be used by the muscles.

The phosphates in creatine are then used to rebuild ATP from ADP, so theoretically the more creatine in your muscles, the quicker ATP can be restored, resulting in more energy available in the muscles. Creatine is used for both strength gains and muscle gains and is often associated with increased stamina over a short period.

History of Creatine

In 1832 a French scientist identified a substance called kreas (Greek for flesh.) A German scientist, Justus von Liebig, later helped promote a meat extract to give the body added strength, the key ingredient being creatine.

The use of creatine was the subject of an investigation following the 1992 Olympics where it was claimed that it was used as a supplement by some of the athletes. Bodybuilding supplements that contain creatine have been available since the 1920s to build muscle bulk.

Bodybuilding Supplements

Athletes and bodybuilders use creatine as a dietary supplement when they are trying to bulk up and gain body mass. It can be taken either in tablet form or as a powder. There are many different formulations such as creatine monohydrate, creatine citrate, creatine ester ethyl hydrochloride, and creatine ester ethyl, amongst others.

When deciding which product is most suitable, consult the consumer reviews. You will find reviews on creatine products published at Consumer Lab. There have been reports of contaminated creatine supplements. Be sure to buy products made by established companies with good reputations.

Typically, users tend to choose powdered creatine such as creatine monohydrate, although recently creatine users have reported excellent results from a product called Kre-Alkalyn. There are very few reports, if any, that promote the use of liquid creatine, effervescence, or any other form of creatine aside from monohydrate and Kre-Alkalyn.

Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate is a tried and true creatine supplement that has withstood the athletes’ test of time. It works, it works best, and it will work for you. We recommended using front loading with creatine monohydrate, as mentioned below under Loading Doses.

Creatine Kre-Alkalyn

Kre-Alkalyn has a higher absorption so it doesn’t require front loading and reportedly causes less creatine bloating and stomach problems. Kre-Alkalyn offers you a creatine supplement that is 100% stable, will not break down into creatinine, and will absorb efficiently into the bloodstream.

Each gram of Kre-Alkalyn is equivalent to 10 grams of creatine powder.

Click here to order a bottle of Kre-Alkalyn.

How to Take Creatine

Creatine uptake into the muscle has been reported to be sodium-dependent and mediated by insulin. The general recommendation is that creatine is best taken with carbohydrates or simple sugars such as fruit juices to maximize its benefit. Taking creatine with 80-100 grams of glucose, or a carbohydrate/protein mix of 50-80 grams of carbs and 30-50 grams of protein, maybe the most effective way to enhance creatine uptake.

Creatine is usually taken in 8-10 week cycles with an initial loading phase of 5 days, and dropping down to the lower maintenance dose for the rest of the cycle. However, there is no evidence to suggest that cycling on and off creatine is more effective than loading and maintaining creatine use. The greatest reported benefit of creatine supplementation occurs with highly intense training. Therefore, if an athlete wants to cycle creatine, it will be more effective when they are involved in their heaviest training period.

As reported by Men’s Health, there is evidence that ingesting creatine with D-pinitol may also help creatine uptake to muscle.

If discomfort, diarrhea, or any other physical condition occurs whilst taking creatine, consult a physician immediately. Always read the label on the product of your choice and follow the guidelines.

Loading Doses

During the loading period, 20 grams of creatine protein powder is taken daily and this amount is broken down into several smaller doses that are taken at regular intervals throughout the day. Users typically take 5 grams, 4 times a day, for 5-7 days when front loading. Studies have shown very little benefit to exercise performance when front loading is not used, even when the athlete supplements with creating for a prolonged period.

After the loading period, only one dose of 3-5 grams is taken daily. The maintenance dose is often taken two to three hours before working out.

A newer form of creatine, called Kre-Alkalyn, discussed above, does not require any front loading. Currently, Kre-Alkalyn is growing more popular, however, it will take several more years of athletic supplementation to determine whether Kre-Alkalyn will be considered an equivalent or superior supplement to creatine monohydrate.

Contraindications

Although creatine is not generally considered a dangerous supplement, because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider. It is not advised to supplement with creatine until you have consulted with your doctor.

Creatine is not recommended for individuals under 18 years of age.
Consult a doctor before taking the product if you have an existing gastrointestinal or renal condition.
Creatine is not recommended for women when they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
People with kidney disease, high blood pressure, or liver disease should avoid creatine.

There are no studies that indicated specifically that creatine supplementation may be harmful to children or adolescent athletes. Long-term creatine supplementation has been used as therapy for several deficiencies and neuromuscular disorders in children. It should be noted that much less is known about the effects of creatine supplementation in younger individuals.

Although there are situations where adolescents would benefit from using creatine, such usage should be cleared and monitored by a physician. Creatine is a much safer alternative to using steroids, especially for a teenager or young adult.

Advantages of Taking Creatine

Bodybuilding supplements such as creatine add fat-free mass to the body. When using creatine, fat-free mass gains are achieved through increased hydration within the muscle tissue and increased energy via the ATP-ADP cycle. Maintaining the body’s store of creatine allows the body to maintain higher energy levels and longer workouts.

The “PUMPS” are also significantly better, as the intra-muscular fluids are much greater than normal within the muscle(s) currently being trained. Using creatine makes one appear much more Swole, at least during exercise. =)

Creatine users have reported the following benefits:

Increased strength
Increased energy
Increased speed
Increased power
Increased stamina
Increased muscle size
Faster recovery times
Less DOMs (soreness)

Creatine does not appear to cause many of the negative side effects normally associated with steroids such as aggression, higher blood pressure and pulse rate, and acne. Creatine also costs way less than most illegal sports supplements like steroids, insulin, and growth hormone.

Disadvantages Associated with Taking Creatine

Most studies have found no significant side effects at normal doses used for up to six months. There are currently no recorded adverse medical side effects other than water retention while taking creatine, and a reduction in energy levels and muscle turgidity and size when the creatine supplementation is stopped.

However, some athletes have reported the following side effects when using creatine: weight gain, muscle cramps, muscle strains and pulls, stomach upset, diarrhea, dizziness, high blood pressure, liver dysfunction, and kidney damage. These side effects are most often reported when creatine usage is higher than the recommended daily intake, when fluid consumption is low, or when exercise conditions are extreme.

Taking creatine supplements may prevent the body from making its natural stores, although the long-term effects are not known. The Food & Drug Administration recommends talking to your doctor before starting to take creatine.

Current Research

Research is currently underway on the potential benefits of creatine for patients with neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson’s, arthritis muscular dystrophy, and others, where it has been found to affect muscular strength. Consult the common medical journals to read more about these studies.

Best Creatine Products

There are only two creatine products that I can recommend today. Creatine monohydrate and Creatine kre-alkalyn. Based on what you’ve just read, it’s your choice as to which product you want to try first… and next.