When you study the biochemistry of creatine, you learn that most people make about one gram per day in their kidneys, pancreas, and liver. If they eat meat, they get another gram per day. Two grams per day pass from the blood into the muscle where 95% of creatine is found.
Creatine acts as a storage place in the cell for energy that comes from food. It is not energy or a source of energy in itself. Creatine only acts like uncharged battery that when charged with energy from food, becomes the major source of energy for immediate anaerobic muscle contraction of fast twitch (type ll) muscle fibers. What happens if there is a creatine deficiency? Two experiments help answer that question. First, in animal experiments, when creatine is blocked chemically from getting into muscle cells, there is loss of type ll fast twitch muscle fibers.
Secondly, a genetic defect has now been identified in children that prevents them from making creatine. These children have muscle loss and weakness plus brain disease. Creatine supplementation strengthens these children. This experiment of nature and the animal experiment show that creatine is a necessary muscle nutrient.

High Dietary Intake of Creatine
In times past, hunters such as the buffalo eating American Plains Indians, African Tribes, and Eskimos ate meat as almost their total energy source. Since meat contains one gram of creatine for each half pound of meat, these hunters consumed 3-5 grams of creatine per day depending of their total caloric need. This creatine dosage is similar to that recommended now by many scientists. Since mankind began as a hunter, is it likely that heavy meat eating is toxic? None of these hunting peoples suffered any known ill effect from this heavy creatine meat diet.

Early Use of Dietary Creatine for Training
History shows that old time strong men commonly trained by eating a pure meat diet. The earliest known example was Milo of Croton, the most famous Olympian of all time. Milo of Croton was a wrestler who lived in the 5th century BC. He won five gold medals and was known for prodigious feats of strength. He trained by lifting a calf each day. Then as the calf grew he lifted more each day and gradually gained strength. As a part of his lifting program he ate a pure meat diet. Thus, he was the first athlete to use modern training techniques of weight lifting and creatine supplementation.

Joe Fraizer, the boxer who became world heavyweight boxing champion, trained by chewing meat, swallowing the juice and then spitting out the rest. Strongmen, in the last and early part of this century, who demonstrated their strength by lifting heavy objects such as horses and anchors, often trained by eating a raw meat diet. These strong men knew what science is now learning. Creatine helps strengthen muscle.

Creatine Supplement Use Not New
The Russians and other Eastern Block countries used creatine as a sports supplementation for at least 20 years. Maybe this helps explain how the Eastern Block countries beat us so badly for so many years in the Olympic games. Recently I spoke to a Russian Sports scientist who told me that the Russians never found any toxic effects of using creatine during all those years in their athletes.

Creatine Use In the United States
In the West creatine has been used for about 10 years. Creatine was used by successfully in the 1992 Olympics. As creatine began to be available here in the United States many athletes began taking creatine in massive amounts. For example, a common loading dose of creatine is 20 grams per day for one week. Muscle builders have been known to take 20, 40, and even 60 grams a day, every day, all without injurious effect on the athlete’s health. If creatine were toxic, this would have been clearly demonstrated by these human guinea pigs over this 10-year period.

Physicians Using Creatine Have Found No Creatine Toxicity
Physicians have begun to use creatine supplementation for heart and muscle problems. In none of these carefully done studies, have doctors found and any injurious effects on the body. On the contrary, many of these studies show promise that creatine can help support the heart and muscle systems.

In summary, I can find no evidence that creatine is harmful in anyway.

The nutrition industry is full of doctors with no credentials. But, Dr. Myers is the authority when it comes to creatine. Six years ago the parents of a high school football player asked Dr. Myers if creatine was safe to use. So, he began studying the supplement and has become the country’s top creatine expert. In fact, when CNN News wanted to learn about creatine, they called Dr. Myers. Read Dr. Myers background

Through his research, Dr. Myers learned that creatine powder, if used incorrectly, can cause negative side affects. However, he also discovered how to enjoy amazing benefits, while avoiding unwanted side effects. His solution is not expensive or difficult, but requires just a bit of common sense. We asked Dr. Myers about creatine side affects.

What causes these negative side affects?
I believe they are caused by two things, both of which you can easily avoid. First, avoid the “more is better” mentality. Many athletes have the “more is better” idea when using creatine. If one scoop of powder is good, they reason, then two scoops must be better. In fact, one creatine study found that 78% of high school athletes either exceeded the recommended dose or didn’t even know how much they’re taking. When high doses of powder enter the stomach, they draw water from the body, causing stomach problems and dehydration.

But, isn’t it true that the more you take the more you absorb?
No it’s not. Researchers found that even when you take a single dose of (6-8 grams), 48% is never absorbed but gets passed in the urine. If you take larger doses of 10 gram or more, you may lose up to 75%. Some companies suggest “loading” by taking 25 grams a day for the first five days. If you do this you will absorb very little of this creatine. Read this creatine study

What else can cause negative side affects?
When you buy a creatine product, there’s a good chance you’re getting one made with Chinese creatine. Most of the creatine found on stores’ shelves is manufactured in either Germany or China. U.S. companies buy their creatine in bulk from one of these sources and then repackage it under their own label.

In China, there are few manufacturing standards. Price, not quality, is what matters most. Poor manufacturing standards may result in toxic contamination, and lead to side affects such as aching stomach, bloating, or cramping. Read more about Chinese creatine

If so many companies are using Chinese creatine, why don’t you see “made in China” on the label?
U.S. laws require clothing and toy companies to label where the product came from, such as “made in China”. However, this same law does not apply to raw materials in supplements. Companies never list “Chinese creatine” on the label. They know that if they did, no one would buy their product. Some even use terms like “100% pure” or “pharmaceutical-grade”.

How do you avoid these negative side affects?
First, feed your muscles a small but steady stream of creatine all day long. Your muscle cells are designed to absorb 1g to 1.5g of creatine every 2½ hours, or 5 grams throughout the day. This is about the same amount you get from food. For example, an 8oz steak has about 1g of creatine. This is a natural amount for your body to absorb in one meal. Read this creatine study

Secondly, use only a high-quality creatine from Germany. German producers, such as Creapure, use only modern technology and are recognized for their high quality. Every batch of Creapure is tested for purity. To get around the problem of cheap, low-quality creatine, Creapure licenses the use of their logo only to those companies that use their product.

What brand of creatine do you recommend?
There are several good brands to pick from. I recommend and helped develop NuCare’s Creatine Power Tabs because they are chewable and make it easy to divide up your dose. This product also uses only Creapure creatine.

Creatine is widely used by many athletes including Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball superstar. Recent animal studies have shown creatine works twice as well as Riluzole, the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of ALS.

Researchers believe creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells. This helps prevent the loss of mitochondria and its resultant damage to the nerve cell. Creatine may also have a direct effect on mitochondria which are necessary for the health and survival of the nerve cell. The bottom line is the more energy a cell has, the more it can can protect itself from injury and premature death.

If you decide to try creatine, it is best to learn the facts for yourself. Read my report below, Creatine Answers for ALS. You can also learn about Creatine Gum and Creatine Power Tabs, two products I use and recommend.

Lynn Myers M.D. is a pathologist and one of the country’s foremost experts on nutritional supplements.

Last year all eight NCAA College World Series Teams took creatine. The supplement is widely used by athletes including Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball MVP, and Mark McGuire the homerun king.

Despite these high-profile athletes, many baseball players have questions about creatine. Lynn Myers M.D. is one of the country’s foremost experts on nutritional supplements. He has been interviewed by CNN Sports, heard on ESPN’s “One On One Sports”. Below he answers common questions about creatine.

What is creatine?
Creatine is a protein made from animo acids. Our body makes one gram each day from protein. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish.

How does creatine help a baseball player?
When we take extra creatine we can store more energy. If you take creatine before a game or practice you will have more energy both at the beginning and throughout the game. This means increased bat speed and quicker reactions. In the weight room creatine allows you to lift harder before tiring. This allows you to make gains in strength and lean muscle.

What is the correct creatine dosage?
Companies that make creatine powder suggest “loading” 15-20 grams per day for a week. Then the dose can be reduced to a maintenance dose of 5 grams per day. The idea is to make sure that people got more than enough creatine to make sure it makes a a difference in athletic performance.

However, these high doses do not translate into higher creatine levels in your muscle. These high doses may explain some of the side-effects of creatine powder.

What type of side effects?
Despite many positive results, some athletes report stomach aches, diarrhea, increased urination and muscle cramps. These are probably caused by two things. When high doses of powder enter the stomach they draw water from the body, causing the intestine to cramp. Secondly, many coaches told me their athletes were taking large doses of creatine powder, thinking that if a little bit was good then a lot would be better.

Is there a way to take creatine that can overcome the problems with powder?
Yes, there are two products that I like. The first is a chewable creatine tablet called Creatine Power Tabs. The second is a mint-flavored creatine chewing gum called Creatine Chewtrition. Both are handy and effective. Both products also give you an exact dose of creatine so you don’t have to worry about mixing or measuring. These products allow the creatine to be absorbed right in the mouth. This bypasses the stomach acid which can destroy up to 60% of the creatine.

Both retain all the advantages of creatine and avoid the problems associated with the powder.

How should a baseball player use creatine?
During practice or competition I recommend chewing one piece of gum or two tabs 20 minutes before a game. Take the remainder halfway through the game or practice. During a weight training session take one piece of gum or two tabs right before and the remainder halfway through your workout.

Dr. Myers, will creatine help some athletes more than others?
Yes, if an athlete does not eat much protein they may have lower creatine levels and see a dramatic improvement with supplementation. In addition, stomach acid destroys creatine so the amount a person absorbs may be a lot or a little depending on a person’s stomach acid level.

Is creatine safe for long-term use?
Creatine has been used for at least ten years in the United States. At times muscle builders have taken extremely high doses, all without proven toxicity or long term injury. No controlled scientific studies have shown serious side effects or toxicity. In times past, heavy meat eaters such as the Plains Indians, African Tribal People, and Eskimos have all eaten high concentrations of creatine in their meat over long periods of time, without any known ill effects.

Where is creatine made?
There are three primary manufacturing sources of creatine powder: China, Europe, and the United States. Distributing companies buy creatine from one of these sources,package it, mix it with other ingredients and make it into a product that is sold to the public. I recommend buying United States or German creatine because both countries have strict manufacturing standards.

If I stop taking creatine how long will creatine last in my muscle?
Creatine levels in muscle gradually fall and are usually back to normal in a month.

Will creatine injure my kidneys?
Creatine in your body gradually changes to a substance called creatinine (notice the spelling) a waste product that is excreted by your kidneys. High powder levels may raise creatinine, but this does not injure the kidneys. Creatinine is not known to be toxic.

Is creatine a steroid?
Creatine is not a steroid, and therefore does not have any of the side effects known to found with those drugs.

Will creatine mess up my hormones?
No, creatine is not a hormone, and has no known effect on our hormone levels or endocrine system.

I welcome specific questions from you, your friends or your physician. Just write doctor@nucare.com

Creatine is now widely used by many athletes including Shannon Sharpe and Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball MVP. Despite these high-profile athletes, many football players have questions about creatine. Lynn Myers M.D. is one of the country’s foremost experts on nutritional supplements. He has been interviewed by CNN Sports, heard on ESPN’s “One On One Sports”. Below he answers common questions about creatine.

What is creatine?
Creatine is a protein made from animo acids. Our body makes one gram each day from protein. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish.

How does creatine help a football player?
When we take extra creatine we can store more energy. If you take creatine before a game or practice you will have more energy both at the beginning and throughout the game. In the weight room creatine allows you to lift harder before tiring. This allows you to make gains in strength and lean muscle.

What is the correct creatine dosage?
Companies that make creatine powder suggest “loading” 15-20 grams per day for a week. Then the dose can be reduced to a maintenance dose of 5 grams per day. The idea is to make sure that people got more than enough creatine to make sure it makes a a difference in athletic performance.

However, these high doses do not translate into higher creatine levels in your muscle. These high doses may explain some of the side-effects of creatine powder.

What type of side effects?
Despite many positive results, some athletes report stomach aches, diarrhea, increased urination and muscle cramps. These are probably caused by two things. When high doses of powder enter the stomach they draw water from the body, causing the intestine to cramp. Secondly, many coaches told me their athletes were taking large doses of creatine powder, thinking that if a little bit was good then a lot would be better.

Is there a way to take creatine that can overcome the problems with powder?
Yes, there are two products that I like. The first is a chewable creatine tablet called Creatine Power Tabs. The second is a mint-flavored creatine chewing gum called Creatine Chewtrition. Both are handy and effective. Both products also give you an exact dose of creatine so you don’t have to worry about mixing or measuring. These products allow the creatine to be absorbed right in the mouth. This bypasses the stomach acid which can destroy up to 60% of the creatine.

Both retain all the advantages of creatine and avoid the problems associated with the powder.

How should a football player use creatine?
During practice or competition I recommend chewing one piece of gum or two tabs 20 minutes before a game. Take the remainder halfway through the game or practice. During a weight training session take one piece of gum or two tabs right before and the remainder halfway through your workout.

Dr. Myers, will creatine help some athletes more than others?
Yes, if an athlete does not eat much protein they may have lower creatine levels and see a dramatic improvement with supplementation. In addition, stomach acid destroys creatine so the amount a person absorbs may be a lot or a little depending on a person’s stomach acid level.

Is creatine safe for long-term use?
Creatine has been used for at least ten years in the United States. At times muscle builders have taken extremely high doses, all without proven toxicity or long term injury. No controlled scientific studies have shown serious side effects or toxicity. In times past, heavy meat eaters such as the Plains Indians, African Tribal People, and Eskimos have all eaten high concentrations of creatine in their meat over long periods of time, without any known ill effects.

Where is creatine made?
There are three primary manufacturing sources of creatine powder: China, Europe, and the United States. Distributing companies buy creatine from one of these sources,package it, mix it with other ingredients and make it into a product that is sold to the public. I recommend buying United States or German creatine because both countries have strict manufacturing standards.

If I stop taking creatine how long will creatine last in my muscle?
Creatine levels in muscle gradually fall and are usually back to normal in a month.

Will creatine injure my kidneys?
Creatine in your body gradually changes to a substance called creatinine (notice the spelling) a waste product that is excreted by your kidneys. High powder levels may raise creatinine, but this does not injure the kidneys. Creatinine is not known to be toxic.

Is creatine a steroid?
Creatine is not a steroid, and therefore does not have any of the side effects known to found with those drugs.

Will creatine mess up my hormones?
No, creatine is not a hormone, and has no known effect on our hormone levels or endocrine system.

I welcome specific questions from you, your friends or your physician. Just write doctor@nucare.com.

Creatine is widely used by many athletes including Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball MVP. Recent animal experiments show that creatine may help people with various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s Disease.

Researchers believe creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells. This helps prevent the loss of mitochondria and its resultant damage to the nerve cell. Creatine may also have a direct effect on mitochondria which are necessary for the health and survival of the nerve cell. The bottom line is the more energy a cell has, the more it can can protect itself from injury and premature death.

If you decide to try creatine, it is best to learn the facts for yourself. Read my report found below, Creatine Answers for Huntington. You can also learn about Creatine Gum and Creatine Power Tabs, two products I use and recommend.

Creatine is widely used by many athletes including Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball MVP. Recent animal experiments show that creatine may help people with various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s Disease.

Researchers believe creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells. This helps prevent the loss of mitochondria and its resultant damage to the nerve cell. Creatine may also have a direct effect on mitochondria which are necessary for the health and survival of the nerve cell. The bottom line is the more energy a cell has, the more it can can protect itself from injury and premature death.

If you decide to try creatine, it is best to learn the facts for yourself. Read my report found below, Creatine Answers for Huntington. You can also learn about Creatine Gum and Creatine Power Tabs, two products I use and recommend.

Creatine is widely used by many athletes including Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball superstar. Recent animal experiments show that creatine may help people with various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Muscular Dystrophy.

People with neuromuscular diseases have unusually low muscle creatine levels. Researchers believe creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells. This helps prevent the loss of mitochondria and its resultant damage to the nerve cell. Creatine also increases a person’s strength and thus, their ability to stay active. Creatine may also have a direct effect on mitochondria which are necessary for the health and survival of the nerve cell. The bottom line is the more energy a cell has, the more it can can protect itself from injury and premature death.

If you decide to try creatine, it is best to learn the facts for yourself. Read my report found below, Creatine Answers for Muscular Dystrophy. You can also learn about Creatine Gum and Creatine Power Tabs, two products I use and recommend.

What is creatine?
Creatine is a protein made from aminoo acids. Our body produces about one gram each day in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish. If you don’t eat enough protein you may have lower creatine levels. Studies have suggested that people with neuromuscular diseases have lower creatine levels.

What does creatine do in the cell?
Creatine stores energy that you get from food. Some of the creatine forms creatine phosphate, an energy source for nerve cells. When you take extra creatine, more energy is avalable for immediate energy needs.

Do you take creatine?
Yes, I take creatine. It helps keep my weight down by keeping my muscle size up. More muscle keeps my metabolic rate high so that I use more calories.

Doctor, if you had Parkinson’s or another neurodegenerative disease, would you take creatine?
Absolutely! I think creatine is a very promising substance that certainly merits consideration by every person with Parkinson’s.

However, I am not your personal physician and do not make medical recommendations. You should consult your physician before making medical decisions. Keep in mind that creatine research is just now attracting the attention of large numbers of medical scientists. My guess is that we are going to hear a lot of exciting things about creatine in the next few years.

How may creatine help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease?
One idea is that creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells. This helps prevent the loss of mitochondria and its resultant damage to the nerve cell. The second idea is that creatine may have a direct effect on mitochondria which are necessary for the health and survival of the nerve cell. The bottom line is the more energy a cell has, the more it can protect itself from injury and premature death.

What is the correct creatine dosage?
Companies that make creatine powder suggest “loading” 15-20 grams per day for a week. Then the dose can be reduced to a maintenance dose of 5 grams per day. The idea is to make sure that people get more than enough creatine to make sure it makes a a difference in every day activities or athletic performance.

However, these high doses do not translate into higher creatine levels in your muscle. Later studies showed that a “loading” dose is unnecessary and may cause some side effects.

What are these side effects?
Despite many positive results, some athletes report stomach aches, diarrhea, increased urination and muscle cramps. These are probably caused by two things. When high doses of powder enter the stomach, they draw water from the body, causing the intestine to cramp. Secondly, some people take large doses of creatine powder, thinking that if a little bit was good, then a lot would be better. I suggest a dosage of 3 to 5 grams per day using a product such as the creatine chewing gum or a chewable creatine tablet. People using these products and dosage have not reported any of the above side effects.

Is creatine safe for long-term use?
Creatine has been used for at least ten years in the United States, and Russia has used creatine well before then. No controlled studies have shown serious side effects. In times past, heavy meat eaters such as the Plains Indians, African Tribal People, and Eskimos have all eaten high concentrations of creatine in their meat over long periods of time, without any known ill effects.

Where is creatine made?
There are three primary manufacturing sources of creatine powder: China, Europe, and the United States. Companies buy creatine from one of these sources,package it, mix it with other ingredients and make it into a product and then finally market it in various ways to the public. I recommend buying U.S. or German creatine because their strict manufacturing standards.

Poor manufacturing standards may result in toxic contamination. My advice is to stick with companies that have very high professional standards. It will cost you more, but it is well worth it.

Is there a way to take creatine that can help overcome the creatine delivery problems you describe?
Yes, there are two products that I like. The first is a chewable creatine tablet called Creatine Power Tabs. It tastes like a grape sweet tart and is very easy to chew up and swallow. The second is a mint-flavored creatine chewing gum.

Both products give you an exact dose of creatine so you don’t have to worry about mixing or measuring. These products allow the creatine to be absorbed right in the mouth. This bypasses the stomach acid which can destroy up to 60% of the creatine. The Tabs and Gum contain carbohydrates which are critical for absorption. Creatine Powder must be mixed with some type of juice.

Both retain all the advantages of creatine and avoid the problems associated with the powder. They are called Creatine Gum and Creatine Power Tabs and are made by NuCare.

Creatine Chewtrition and Creatine Power Tabs are good delivery systems for those who are up and about and can chew. If you can’t chew, try Creatine Power Tabs and let the wafer dissolve in your mouth or crush it with a spoon and mix it with 4oz of water. You may also try 3-5 grams of powder per day in divided doses. Be sure to completely dissolve the powder in water. Take it immediately via mouth or PEG and don’t store the solution. Take the creatine about an hour after a high carbohydrate meal. Avoid caffeine in coffee and soft drinks because it has been reported to neutralize the positive effect of creatine.

How can I learn more?
I write a free weekly e-mail newsletter that covers various health and nutritional issues. I call my newsletter “Doc Joc” because of my interest in sports. If you or your friends want to subscribe, just write “subscribe” in the subject line and send to docjoc@nucare.com. I also welcome specific questions from you, your friends or your physician. Just write doctor@nucare.com

Lynn Myers M.D. is one of the country’s foremost experts on nutritional supplements. He has been interviewed by CNN Sports, heard on ESPN’s “One On One Sports”. Below he answers common questions about creatine.

What is creatine?
Creatine is a protein made from animo acids. Our body makes one gram each day from protein. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish.

How does creatine help a soccer player?
When we take extra creatine we can store more energy. If you take creatine before a game or practice you will have more energy both at the beginning and throughout the game. A research study found that creatine-supplemented players showed increased speed during six 15-meter test sprints, as well as increased stamina in jumping performance after an exhausting endurance test. Seventeen athletes were divided into two groups, one getting creatine and the other getting a placebo. During sprints, those taking creatine showed a dramatic speed improvement over those on the placebo. The creatine group’s average improvements were .02 seconds over 5 meters and .03 seconds over 15 meters, the report said. 1

What is the correct creatine dosage?
Companies that make creatine powder suggest “loading” 15-20 grams per day for a week. Then the dose can be reduced to a maintenance dose of 5 grams per day. The idea is to make sure that people got more than enough creatine to make sure it makes a a difference in athletic performance.

However, these high doses do not translate into higher creatine levels in your muscle. These high doses may explain some of the side-effects of creatine powder.

What type of side effects?
Despite many positive results, some athletes report stomach aches, diarrhea, increased urination and muscle cramps. These are probably caused by two things. When high doses of powder enter the stomach they draw water from the body, causing the intestine to cramp. Secondly, many coaches told me their athletes were taking large doses of creatine powder, thinking that if a little bit was good then a lot would be better.

Is there a way to take creatine that can overcome the problems with powder?
Yes, there are two products that I like. The first is a chewable creatine tablet called Creatine Power Tabs. The second is a mint-flavored creatine chewing gum called Creatine Chewtrition. Both are handy and effective. Both products also give you an exact dose of creatine so you don’t have to worry about mixing or measuring. These products allow the creatine to be absorbed right in the mouth. This bypasses the stomach acid which can destroy up to 60% of the creatine.

Both retain all the advantages of creatine and avoid the problems associated with the powder.

How should a hockey player use creatine?
During practice or competition I recommend chewing one piece of gum or two tabs 20 minutes before a game. Take the remainder halfway through the game or practice. During a weight training session take one piece of gum or two tabs right before and the remainder halfway through your workout.

Dr. Myers, will creatine help some athletes more than others?
Yes, if an athlete does not eat much protein they may have lower creatine levels and see a dramatic improvement with supplementation. In addition, stomach acid destroys creatine so the amount a person absorbs may be a lot or a little depending on a person’s stomach acid level.

Is creatine safe for long-term use?
Creatine has been used for at least ten years in the United States. At times muscle builders have taken extremely high doses, all without proven toxicity or long term injury. No controlled scientific studies have shown serious side effects or toxicity. In times past, heavy meat eaters such as the Plains Indians, African Tribal People, and Eskimos have all eaten high concentrations of creatine in their meat over long periods of time, without any known ill effects.

Where is creatine made?
There are three primary manufacturing sources of creatine powder: China, Europe, and the United States. Distributing companies buy creatine from one of these sources,package it, mix it with other ingredients and make it into a product that is sold to the public. I recommend buying United States or German creatine because both countries have strict manufacturing standards.

If I stop taking creatine how long will creatine last in my muscle?
Creatine levels in muscle gradually fall and are usually back to normal in a month.

Will creatine injure my kidneys?
Creatine in your body gradually changes to a substance called creatinine (notice the spelling) a waste product that is excreted by your kidneys. High powder levels may raise creatinine, but this does not injure the kidneys. Creatinine is not known to be toxic.

Is creatine a steroid?
Creatine is not a steroid, and therefore does not have any of the side effects known to found with those drugs.

Will creatine mess up my hormones?
No, creatine is not a hormone, and has no known effect on our hormone levels or endocrine system.

I welcome specific questions from you, your friends or your physician. Just write doctor@nucare.com.

1. Creatine supplementation and sprint performance in soccer players, Mujika I, Padilla S, Ibanez J, Izquierdo M, Gorostiaga E.