Creatine Use in Sports.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the safety, dosing, and effects of creatine supplementation on sports performance, particularly in resistance training.
Results Summary
Short-term creatine use is safe with no significant adverse effects, though long-term safety data are limited. Creatine supplementation is most effective for enhancing performance in short-duration, maximal-intensity resistance training, but its impact on real-world sports performance remains unclear.
Population
General athletic population, with noted lack of data on children and adolescents.
Effective Dosage
Variable, with multiple regimens showing benefits (specific amounts not detailed).
Duration
Short-term (specific duration not detailed).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine | no change | safety | - | no significant adverse effects | considered safe and without significant adverse effects | #1 |
creatine supplementation | increase | performance in short-duration, maximal-intensity resistance training | - | - | best supports | #2 |
creatine supplementation | increase | performance on the field of play | - | - | leads to improved performance | #3 |
CONTEXT: The use of creatine as a dietary supplement has become increasingly popular over the past several decades. Despite the popularity of creatine, questions remain with regard to dosing, effects on sports performance, and safety. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed was searched for articles published between 1980 and January 2017 using the terms creatine, creatine supplementation, sports performance, and dietary supplements. An additional Google search was performed to capture National Collegiate Athletic Association-specific creatine usage data and US dietary supplement and creatine sales. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. RESULTS: Short-term use of creatine is considered safe and without significant adverse effects, although caution should be advised as the number of long-term studies is limited. Suggested dosing is variable, with many different regimens showing benefits. The safety of creatine supplementation has not been studied in children and adolescents. Currently, the scientific literature best supports creatine supplementation for increased performance in short-duration, maximal-intensity resistance training. CONCLUSION: While creatine appears to be safe and effective for particular settings, whether creatine supplementation leads to improved performance on the field of play remains unknown.