Creatine and creatine forms intended for sports nutrition.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the safety of creatine monohydrate and other creatine forms, with special focus on vulnerable subgroups, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Results Summary
The abstract does not provide specific findings about breastfeeding, only noting that breastfeeding women were excluded from safety evaluations. Limited safety data exist for some creatine forms, with concerns raised for creatine orotate, creatine phosphate, and magnesium creatine chelate.
Population
Healthy adults, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Effective Dosage
3 g per day (for general creatine intake).
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
supplementation of creatine | increase | gastrointestinal complaints | - | - | occasionally caused adverse effects | #1 |
supplementation of creatine | increase | muscle cramps | - | - | occasionally caused adverse effects | #2 |
supplementation of creatine | increase | body weight | - | - | occasionally caused adverse effects | #3 |
Creatine monohydrate | no change | safety | healthy adults with exclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women | daily intake of 3 g creatine per person | unlikely to pose safety concerns | #4 |
most of the evaluated creatine forms | no change | safety | - | acceptable creatine intake of 3 g per day | unlikely to pose safety concerns | #5 |
creatine orotate | neutral | safety | - | - | some safety concerns | #6 |
creatine phosphate | neutral | safety | - | - | some safety concerns | #7 |
magnesium creatine chelate | neutral | safety | - | - | some safety concerns | #8 |
Creatine is a popular ergogenic supplement in sports nutrition. Yet, supplementation of creatine occasionally caused adverse effects such as gastrointestinal complaints, muscle cramps and an increase in body weight. Creatine monohydrate has already been evaluated by different competent authorities and several have come to the conclusion that a daily intake of 3 g creatine per person is unlikely to pose safety concerns, focusing on healthy adults with exclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Possible vulnerable subgroups were also discussed in relation to the safety of creatine. The present review provides an up-to-date overview of the relevant information with special focus on human studies regarding the safety of creatine monohydrate and other marketed creatine forms, in particular creatine pyruvate, creatine citrate, creatine malate, creatine taurinate, creatine phosphate, creatine orotate, creatine ethyl ester, creatine pyroglutamate, creatine gluconate, and magnesium creatine chelate. Limited data are available with regard to the safety of the latter creatine forms. Considering an acceptable creatine intake of 3 g per day, most of the evaluated creatine forms are unlikely to pose safety concerns, however some safety concerns regarding a supplementary intake of creatine orotate, creatine phosphate, and magnesium creatine chelate are discussed here.