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Creatine and creatine forms intended for sports nutrition.

Molecular nutrition & food research
June 1, 2017
Susanne Andres et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

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.

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsConsumer Product SafetyCreatineDietary SupplementsDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansMitochondriaModels, AnimalMuscle CellsMuscle, SkeletalPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesPhosphorylationSports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations18
Citations/Year2.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.35
NIH Percentile61.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score0.95
Normalized Score0.55
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