PDA

View Full Version : Creatine MYTH or FACT?


flexn
04-10-2003, 05:02 PM
ok ok hear me out on this...

i know BB'ers get this alot when they mention their taking creatine to other ppl...


but i've been hearing it from ppl from different places...


Does creatine shrink your package?

If it does... :eek:

Is there any proof that it does or doesnt?

PowerManDL
04-10-2003, 05:06 PM
Yes. Creatine will make you impotent just as fast as posting on the Internet.

J450n
04-10-2003, 05:07 PM
:eek: I bloody well hope not!! ;) but doubt it... don't see how..

MrWebb78
04-10-2003, 05:08 PM
lol how do some people come up with those rumors. how would creatine make a ****** shrink, what a bunch of jackasses

aidano
04-10-2003, 05:11 PM
I agree MrWebb, I gained at least 2 inches from it!

edit: unless by 'package' he means wallet, and by 'creatine' he means CellTech..

flexn
04-10-2003, 05:12 PM
so it it just a rumor? :confused:

"Yes. Creatine will make you impotent just as fast as posting on the Internet."

had me confused there for a second...


but why would ppl say such a thing about creatine?

is it cuz its banned from a lot of highschoolsports(so i've heard) or ppl think its steriods lil cousin?

J450n
04-10-2003, 05:15 PM
To compare it to steriods is a bit harsh... tuttut

Edit : Oh but at £40 for a 1000g's, it certainly reduces my bank balance! :cry:

MrWebb78
04-10-2003, 05:16 PM
people say crazy **** about everything they dont understand, god forbid they actually do research

Silverback
04-10-2003, 05:17 PM
it wont shrink ur sack,

but it will shrink the cash in your wallet :)

MrWebb78
04-10-2003, 05:17 PM
wow my dollar bills will get smaller?

DowntoBusiness
04-10-2003, 05:27 PM
the only thing that will get smaller is your wallet, but thats if your buying cell-tech :D

Its funny how the public, government and the media portrays creatine or any supplementation as using steriods. That and the fact that they make ephedra sound like it kills you within minutes. (Read rant post in gen. discussion)

flexn
04-10-2003, 05:38 PM
lol thnx guys... watarelief

pusher
04-10-2003, 10:33 PM
Actually, your package is supposed to grow 1950%!!..... At least thats what the studies say.

WOW!! Thanks Muscletech!:D

Fluid
04-10-2003, 10:46 PM
Myth, hahahahahhahhahahaha!

Fluid

Shao-LiN
04-11-2003, 12:55 PM
Your body also produces its own creatine, so take that for what it's worth.

restless
04-11-2003, 02:56 PM
I also get this a lot and usually I just tell them it's all crap and don't even bother to defend my stance on most ocasions.

Next time you get this crap from someone just have this list of some of the 28 pages of abstracts a search in Pubmed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed) comes up with that showed no adverse effects from long term creatine supplementation and many showing it's beneffits and show it to them. There is one showing adverse effects on mice with pre existing kidney conditions but not much else.

Creatine supplementation does not affect kidney function in an animal model with pre-existing renal failure.

Taes YE, Delanghe JR, Wuyts B, Van De Voorde J, Lameire NH.

Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and. Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ghent and. Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

BACKGROUND:Creatine is widely used as an ergogenic substance among athletes. Safety of prolonged creatine intake has been questioned, based upon case reports and animal data. We investigated the effect of prolonged creatine ingestion on renal function in animals with normal kidney function or pre-existing kidney failure, respectively. METHODS:Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four experimental groups: (i) sham-operated, control diet; (ii) sham-operated, creatine-supplemented diet (2% w/w (0.9+/-0.2 g creatine/kg body weight/day)); (iii) two-thirds nephrectomized, control diet; and (iv) two-thirds nephrectomized, creatine supplemented diet. Glomerular filtration rate was determined using inulin and creatinine clearance, together with albumin excretion, urea clearance, muscle and serum creatine and serum cystatin C concentrations. RESULTS:In contrast to previous reports, no detrimental effects of creatine supplementation on the renal function indices were observed in two-thirds nephrectomized or sham-operated animals. No differences were observed in inulin (0.28+/-0.08 vs 0.25+/-0.08 ml/min/100 g; P=NS) or creatinine clearance rates. Serum cystatin C concentration, urinary protein excretion, and albumin and urea clearance were comparable between creatine-supplemented and control-diet fed animals in both sham-operated and two-thirds nephrectomized animals. Serum creatine and intramuscular total creatine concentrations were higher in creatine-supplemented groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Creatine supplementation at a dosage of 2% w/w for 4 weeks does not impair kidney function in animals with pre-existing renal failure or in control animals.

PMID: 12543878 [PubMed - in process]

Effects of long-term creatine supplementation on liver and kidney functions in American college football players.

Mayhew DL, Mayhew JL, Ware JS.

Exercise Science Program, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term Cr supplementation on blood parameters reflecting liver and kidney function. Twenty-three members of an NCAA Division II American football team (ages = 19-24 years) with at least 2 years of strength training experience were divided into a Cr monohydrate group (CrM, n = 10) in which they voluntarily and spontaneously ingested creatine, and a control group (n = 13) in which they took no supplements. Individuals in the CrM group averaged regular daily consumption of 5 to 20 g (mean SD = 13.9 5.8 g) for 0.25 to 5.6 years (2.9 1.8 years). Venous blood analysis for serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, urea, and creatinine produced no significant differences between groups. Creatinine clearance was estimated from serum creatinine and was not significantly different between groups. Within the CrM group, correlations between all blood parameters and either daily dosage or duration of supplementation were nonsignificant. Therefore, it appears that oral supplementation with CrM has no long-term detrimental effects on kidney or liver functions in highly trained college athletes in the absence of other nutritional supplements.

[Creatine: the nutritional supplement for exercise - current concepts]

[Article in Portuguese]

Mendes RR, Tirapegui J.

Departamento de Alimentos e Nutricao Experimental, Laboratorio de Nutricao, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas Universidade de Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Creatine, a natural nutrient found in animal foods, is alleged to be an effective nutritional ergogenic aid to enhance sport or exercise performance. It may be formed in kidney and liver from arginina and glicina. Creatine may be delivered to the muscle, where it may combine readily with phosphate to form creatine phosphate, a high-energy phosphagen in the ATP-CP system, and is stored. The ATP-CP energy system is important for rapid energy production, such as in speed and power events. Approximately 120 g of creatine is found in a 70 kg male, 95% in the skeletal muscle. Total creatine exists in muscle as both free creatine (40%) and phosphocreatine (60%). It is only recently that a concerted effort has been undertaken to investigate its potential ergogenic effect relative to sport or exercise performance. It does appear that oral creatine monohydrate may increase muscle total creatine, including both free and phosphocreatine. Many, but not all studies suggest that creatine supplementation may enhance performance in high intensity, short-term exercise task that are dependent primarily on the ATP-CP energy system, particularly on laboratory test involving repeated exercise bouts with limited recovery time between repetitions. Short-term creatine supplementation appears to increase body mass, although the initial increase is most likely water associated with the osmotic effect of increased intramuscular total creatine. Chronic creatine supplementation in conjunction with physical training involving resistance exercise may increase muscle mass. However, confirmatory research data are needed. Creatine supplementation up to 8 weeks, with high doses, has not been associated with major health risks; with low doses, it was demonstrated that in 5 years period supplementation, there are no adverse effects. The decision to use creatine as a mean to enhance sport performance is left to the description to the individual athlete.

Creatine supplementation and health variables: a retrospective study.

Schilling BK, Stone MH, Utter A, Kearney JT, Johnson M, Coglianese R, Smith L, O'Bryant HS, Fry AC, Starks M, Keith R, Stone ME.

Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA.

PURPOSE: Long-term safety of creatine supplementation has been questioned. This retrospective study was performed to examine markers related to health, the incidence of reported side effects and the perceived training benefits in athletes supplementing with creatine monohydrate. METHODS: Twenty-six athletes (18 M and 8 F, 24.7 +/- 9.2 y; 82.4 +/- 20.0 kg; 176.5 +/- 8.8 cm) from various sports were used as subjects. Blood was collected between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. after a 12-h fast. Standard clinical examination was performed for CBC and 27 blood chemistries. Testosterone, cortisol, and growth hormone were analyzed using an ELISA. Subjects answered a questionnaire on dietary habits, creatine supplementation, medical history, training history, and perceived effects of supplementation. Body mass was measured using a medical scale, body composition was estimated using skinfolds, and resting heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. Subjects were grouped by supplementation length or no use: Gp1 (control) = no use (N = 7; 3 F, 4 M); Gp2 = 0.8-1.0 yr (N = 9; 2 F, 7 M); and Gp3 = 1(+) (N = 10; 3 F, 7 M). RESULTS: Creatine supplementation ranged from 0.8--4 yr. Mean loading dose for Gp2 and Gp3 was 13.7 +/- 10.0 and the maintenance dose was 9.7 +/- 5.7 g.d(-)1. Group differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. CONCLUSIONS: Expected gender differences were observed. Of the comparisons made among supplementation groups, only two differences for creatinine and total protein (P < 0.05) were noted. All group means fell within normal clinical ranges. There were no differences in the reported incidence of muscle injury, cramps, or other side effects. These data suggest that long-term creatine supplementation does not result in adverse health effects.


Health implications of creatine: can oral creatine supplementation protect against neurological and atherosclerotic disease?

Wyss M, Schulze A.

Roche Vitamins AG, Biotechnology Department (VFB), Building 203/113A, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland. markus.wyss@roche.com

Major achievements made over the last several years have highlighted the important roles of creatine and the creatine kinase reaction in health and disease. Inborn errors of metabolism have been identified in the three main steps involved in creatine metabolism: arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT), S-adenosyl-L-methionine:N-guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT), and the creatine transporter. All these diseases are characterized by a lack of creatine and phosphorylcreatine in the brain, and by (severe) mental ******ation. Similarly, knockout mice lacking the brain cytosolic and mitochondrial isoenzymes of creatine kinase displayed a slightly increased creatine concentration, but no phosphorylcreatine in the brain. These mice revealed decreased weight gain and reduced life expectancy, disturbed fat metabolism, behavioral abnormalities and impaired learning capacity.Oral creatine supplementation improved the clinical symptoms in both AGAT and GAMT deficiency, but not in creatine transporter deficiency. In addition, creatine supplementation displayed neuroprotective effects in several animal models of neurological disease, such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. All these findings pinpoint to a close correlation between the functional capacity of the creatine kinase/phosphorylcreatine/creatine system and proper brain function. They also offer a starting-point for novel means of delaying neurodegenerative disease, and/or for strengthening memory function and intellectual capabilities.Finally, creatine biosynthesis has been postulated as a major effector of homocysteine concentration in the plasma, which has been identified as an independent graded risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. By decreasing homocysteine production, oral creatine supplementation may, thus, also lower the risk for developing, e.g., coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease.Although compelling, these results require further confirmation in clinical studies in humans, together with a thorough evaluation of the safety of oral creatine supplementation.

Direct antioxidant properties of creatine.

Lawler JM, Barnes WS, Wu G, Song W, Demaree S.

276-B Read Building, Redox Biology and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4243, USA. jml2621@neo.tamu.edu

Creatine is the most popular supplement proposed to be an ergogenic aid. There is some evidence in the literature that creatine supplementation increases lean body mass, muscular strength, and sprint power. However, the efficacy of creatine has not been consistent, and the potential mechanisms are unresolved. While limited evidence that suggests that creatine could possess an antioxidant effect this has not been tested directly. Because oxidants such as free radicals can affect muscle fatigue and protein turnover, it is important to know whether creatine can neutralize free radicals and other reactive oxygen species. We tested the hypothesis that creatine would remove superoxide anions (O(*-)(2)), peroxynitrite (OONO-), hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxides (t-butyl hydroperoxide). We also determined whether creatine displayed a significant antioxidant scavenging capacity (ASC) using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolamine-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) quenching as a marker. Creatine did not significantly reduce levels of hydrogen peroxide or lipid peroxidation. In contrast, creatine displayed a significant ability to remove ABTS+, O(*-)(2), and OONO- when compared with controls. Creatine quenching of ABTS+ was less than physiological levels of reduced glutathione (0.375 mM). To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that creatine has the potential to act as a direct antioxidant against aqueous radical and reactive species ions. (c)2002 Elsevier Science.