# Creatine... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826 "2001-06-22T22:39:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![satanslawyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@satanslawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satanslawyer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826/1 "2001-06-22T22:39:41Z")
Anyone know the straight dope on creatine? How does it work? What are the side effects? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826/2 "2001-06-22T22:55:38Z")
From [Creatine, the Next Ergogenic Supplement?](http://www.sportsci.org/traintech/creatine/rbk.html): > [@](#): > > **Summary**. Creatine is used in muscle cells to store energy for sprinting and explosive exercise. Athletes can increase the amount of creatine in muscle by taking creatine supplements. Although some studies report no ergogenic effect, most indicate that creatine supplementation (e.g. 20 g per day for 5 to 7 days) increases sprint performance by 1-5% and work performed in repeated sprints by up to 15%. These ergogenic effects appear to be related to the extent of uptake of creatine into muscle. Creatine supplementation for a month or two during training has been reported to promote further gains in sprint performance (5-8%), as well as gains in strength (5-15%) and lean body mass (1-3%). The only known side effect is increased body weight. More research is needed on individual differences in the response to creatine, periodic or cyclical use of creatine, side effects, and long-term effects on endurance. From [Creatine Supplementation in Athletes: Review](http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/creatine.html): > [@](#): > > If you haven’t yet heard of creatine supplementation you soon will. It is being promoted as a muscular performance enhancer, and there is scientific evidence to support this. Unfortunately, claims have escalated beyond science, and now athletes from a wide variety of sports have begun taking this substance. The pursuit of performance enhancing potions has historically been like the alchemists dreams turning lead into gold. Too often the latest fad turns out to do nothing or is harmful. Although creatine supplementation offers short-term limited benefits, whether or not it is harmful long term has yet to be fully determined. From the [Creatine Information Center](http://www.creatinemonohydrate.net/newsletterpopup.html) website: > [@](#): > > **Creatine (monohydrate)** is one of the most widely used nutritional supplement in athletics. Creatine is commonly used by professional and amateur athletes and is gaining popularity among high school athletes. Yet, despite creatine’s increasing prevalence in athletics, little is actually known of its side effects. Moreover, misinformation about creatine and its side effects is everywhere. **This website, in hopes of resolving these issues for our visitors, will premier the most recent developments in the creatine field free of charge**. First returns from a google search. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826/3 "2001-06-23T03:23:28Z")
All I can tell you is what our family’s orthopedist said when our weightlifting son wanted permission to use it. IF your only purpose for taking it is for muscle recovery after strenous exertion and IF you follow the label directions and IF you take care of yourself in other ways with proper diet and not overexerting yourself THEN I don’t endorse it, but it probably won’t do any harm. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826/4 "2001-06-23T04:47:39Z")
[Here](http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/969991656.html) is an article that may be of interest. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826/5 "2001-06-23T05:02:37Z")
And [here](http://www.finepharmaceuticals.com/creatine/creatine_faq.htm) is an excellent FAQ page about creatine. ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatine/69826/6 "2001-06-23T16:31:07Z")
Having used creatine, I can tell you that it does cause the muscle to stay “pumped” longer, but can cause severe muscle cramps if you don’t drink plenty of water when taking it.