Creatine

Creatine is found in the body in muscle, brain, and blood. However, most creatine in the body is stored in muscles. Scientists think its potential for increasing energy comes from its ability to help the body increase the efficiency with which cells use energy.

While there are many in the medical community who are skeptical about creatine's benefits, it is currently a legal method of enhancing performance and increasing body mass. Some studies support the claim that creatine is safe and effective. At the same time, there are other studies with less promising results. In fact, French authorities are so concerned about the safety of creatine that they have made the sale of creatine supplements illegal. Furthermore, in January 2001, France's Food Safety Agency posted warning statements regarding the use of creatine on the Agency's WEB site.(4)

Part of the concern is that creatine use is so widespread among athletes at all levels. Surveys show substantial numbers of high school athletes are using creatine supplementation. In one survey 16% of the athletes from 11 high schools in Tennessee admitted to using creatine.(5) Another survey reported 44% of the high school athletes from a single school in a suburb of New York City using creatine.(6) Experts strongly recommend against the use of creatine among adolescent athletes until more is known about its safety.

Animal protein is the best source of dietary creatine.

In addition to offering potential benefits for athletes, creatine may have some clinical applications for treating health disorders. One study suggested that creatine may support motor performance and increase survival times for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.(13) Creatine may also support muscle health and help maintain body weight in other types of neuromuscular disorders(14) as well as McArdle disease, a muscular disorder where creatine supplementation reduced muscle complaints and improved muscle function.(15)

Congestive heart failure patients have also benefited from creatine use. One human study using 20 grams daily for 10 days showed improvements in both strength and endurance.(16) In another human study, patients with congestive heart failure used 20 grams of creatine daily for 5 days and showed greater muscle endurance and improved skeletal muscle function when exerted.(17)

Large doses of creatine coupled with intense exercise can lead to kidney dysfunction.(18),(19) Increased fluid intake will help dilute the contents and facilitate elimination.

Another potential problem associated with creatine use is related to possible contaminants that are produced during the manufacturing of the product. Contaminants such as dicyandiamide, dihydrotriazine, and creatinine may be found in the final product.(20) Be advised of this and realize that consumption of large doses of creatine may also increase the amount of contaminants consumed. Some companies state on their labels that their creatine products are guaranteed to be free of these contaminants. Until further toxicity studies are done, the effects of these contaminants are not fully understood.

An additional concern is that in products produced in Europe, amino acids that could have originated from bovine sources may have been used in the production of creatine.