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Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
January 1, 1970
Jose Antonio et al. (11 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation, addressing common questions such as whether creatine leads to water retention and other potential effects.

Results Summary

The abstract does not provide specific results regarding water retention or other effects of creatine but indicates that an evidence-based evaluation was conducted by an expert team.

Population

Athletes, exercising individuals, older adults, and patient populations.

Effective Dosage

3-5 g/day or 0.1 g/kg of body mass/day.

Duration

Not specified.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
creatine supplementation
increase
muscle mass, performance and recovery
athletes and exercising individuals
-
improving
#1
creatine supplementation
increase
-
older and patient populations
-
produces a variety of beneficial effects
#2
creatine supplementation
no change
-
-
-
relatively well tolerated
#3
Abstract

Supplementing with creatine is very popular amongst athletes and exercising individuals for improving muscle mass, performance and recovery. Accumulating evidence also suggests that creatine supplementation produces a variety of beneficial effects in older and patient populations. Furthermore, evidence-based research shows that creatine supplementation is relatively well tolerated, especially at recommended dosages (i.e. 3-5 g/day or 0.1 g/kg of body mass/day). Although there are over 500 peer-refereed publications involving creatine supplementation, it is somewhat surprising that questions regarding the efficacy and safety of creatine still remain. These include, but are not limited to: 1. Does creatine lead to water retention? 2. Is creatine an anabolic steroid? 3. Does creatine cause kidney damage/renal dysfunction? 4. Does creatine cause hair loss / baldness? 5. Does creatine lead to dehydration and muscle cramping? 6. Is creatine harmful for children and adolescents? 7. Does creatine increase fat mass? 8. Is a creatine 'loading-phase' required? 9. Is creatine beneficial for older adults? 10. Is creatine only useful for resistance / power type activities? 11. Is creatine only effective for males? 12. Are other forms of creatine similar or superior to monohydrate and is creatine stable in solutions/beverages? To answer these questions, an internationally renowned team of research experts was formed to perform an evidence-based scientific evaluation of the literature regarding creatine supplementation.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdiposityAdolescentAdultAlopeciaBody WaterChildCreatineDehydrationDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansKidneyKidney DiseasesMaleMuscle CrampMuscle, SkeletalSex FactorsSports Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaTestosteroneTestosterone Congeners
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations86
Citations/Year21.5
Relative Citation Ratio11.04
NIH Percentile98.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.00
Normalized Score0.57
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