Creatine Had a Bad Reputation. Then Scientists Kept Studying It
Once treated like a questionable gym supplement, creatine now has decades of research behind its benefits for training — and growing interest in what it may do beyond the weight room.
Athletes World
• Once viewed with suspicion, creatine has become one of the most studied sports supplements, with research supporting its use for strength, muscle and training performance.
For years, creatine sounded like something athletes should be suspicious of. It was blamed for kidney problems, dehydration, cramps and even hair loss.
Then scientists kept studying it.
Creatine isn't a steroid or stimulant. The body naturally makes it, and muscles use it as part of the system that supplies quick energy during explosive efforts such as sprinting and lifting. By the early 1990s, researchers had shown that taking creatine could increase the amount stored in muscle. (Clinical Science, 1992)
Today, creatine monohydrate belongs to a surprisingly short list of sports supplements with solid evidence behind them. The International Olympic Committee has identified it as one of the supplements with good evidence for performance benefits in specific situations, particularly strength, power and high-intensity exercise. (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018)
Then scientists kept studying it.
Creatine isn't a steroid or stimulant. The body naturally makes it, and muscles use it as part of the system that supplies quick energy during explosive efforts such as sprinting and lifting. By the early 1990s, researchers had shown that taking creatine could increase the amount stored in muscle. (Clinical Science, 1992)
Today, creatine monohydrate belongs to a surprisingly short list of sports supplements with solid evidence behind them. The International Olympic Committee has identified it as one of the supplements with good evidence for performance benefits in specific situations, particularly strength, power and high-intensity exercise. (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018)
