Anybody ask a doctor about supplements?

[markfromaurora]

I was just wondering did anyone bring the topic of supplements up with their own physician/doctor? What did they tell you? I was just wondering what kind of answer I would expect from somebody like my docotr if I asked about creatine or some other supplements.

[deeder]

What are you going to ask your doctor?

Unless your doc is really good expect a disapproving look and some uninformed cautions ;)

[markfromaurora]

Something along the lines of ... " if I start taking creatine muscle supplements, will I ruin any part of my body, such as the kidneys or liver, or such.Or is it safe just like normal vitamins? " I was just curious what a professional medical school graduate would say

[deeder]

They'd probably say "creatine is just as bad as steroids and it will give you a heart attack by the time you're 30"

Seriously, how much do you think doctors learn about creatine in med school? There's lots of scientifically supported evidence that normal doses of creatine is safe unless you're an idiot (don't drink water) or you have pre-existing problems.

[markfromaurora]

I just have this paranoia that it will f*** my body up after yeears and years

[deeder]

There are plenty of people around here that have been taking creatine for a long time with no problems whatsoever. I've been on it for almost 2 years now with no adverse effects :)

[ZenMonkey]

I have asked my GP about creatine and he says there is no problem with it... duh.

Also when I had my wisdom teeth out I asked the surgeon about creatine and he said it will probably even help with the recovery process.

[jdeity]

I just have this paranoia that it will f*** my body up after yeears and years

then don't use it - it's not making or breaking your training :dj:

[Unreal]

Unless they have specifically researched it and read up the medical journals on it they won't know more then most people. Read up on pubmed and all the research and make up your own mind.

[jdeity]

which adds hilarity to the standard disclaimer on any new ergogenic product - "consult your doctor before taking this or other supplements". LO f'in L!! Like any doctor in the US is gonna look at your bottle of muscletech pills and say 'yeah, these look great, have at it!'.

[nejar462]

Doctors have tremendous incentives to say no to supplements.

If they say they're fine, and something bad happens, they might be liable.

If they say they're bad, and something good DOESN'T happen, they are not liable.

[markfromaurora]

its just long terms of 20+ years of usage effects of supps such as creatine is what id want to know

[jdeity]

me too. Who knows it could turn out insanely dangerous. Odds are stacked against that sooo much tho that it's not even funny. If *any* commonly used product, down the road, turns out to have been a bad idea, my money is definitely on mega-dose vitamins.