creatine and hair loss

[Semidevil]

What are your guys' thoughts on creatine and hairless? I currently take a multivitamin pak from GNC which, aside from the vitamins, energy boost, also includes 5g creatine. Then, my pre work out and post workout, I'm taking a mass gainer, which also includes 10 g of creatine.

To me at least, I feel that I'm improving and I see a slight 'pump' on my body because of the creatine, but does it cause hair loss?

reading around the net seems to had mixed reviews......

any body have any experiences? I'm thinking if I should just quit all that and go with natural food (besides the occasional protein shake)

 

[SociallyChallenged]

No research has ever shown hair loss to be a side effect. It's bro science. It's bald guys going bald already looking for something to blame it on.

 

[tedrodai]

You realize you're gonna get creatine in your natural food right?

 

[Schmide]

Being bald, I have to say, if you have hair loss you have hair loss. If creatine increases your production of Testosterone-H; which is what your follicles can't handle, you will have accelerated hair loss.

Reality is unless you want to be a hormone deficient man lady, grab a blade and accept the inevitable.

Edit - I personally don't use creatine, or any drug other than my cytomax for riding.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

You realize you're gonna get creatine in your natural food right?

A very, very small amount. You'd have to eat literally 10s of pounds of red meat every day to get a similar amount as supplementing.

 

[tedrodai]

A very, very small amount. You'd have to eat literally 10s of pounds of red meat every day to get a similar amount as supplementing.

What's the average intake from your normal diet--around 1mg? I guess my point is that it's a natural supplement. Your body already consumes some and makes some from proteins, and in fact needs it. So even if the stuff DID promote baldness, it's not something you'd be able stop altogether.

 

[vrodmuscle]

No research has ever shown hair loss to be a side effect. It's bro science. It's bald guys going bald already looking for something to blame it on.

This. Doctorate thesis on broscience

 

[SociallyChallenged]

What's the average intake from your normal diet--around 1mg? I guess my point is that it's a natural supplement. Your body already consumes some and makes some from proteins, and in fact needs it. So even if the stuff DID promote baldness, it's not something you'd be able stop altogether.

You're saying it's not a big deal because it's already in your body? The problem is that most everything is dose-dependent within the human body. If it DID cause baldness, then having more of it in your system would make it much worse.

The fact of the matter is that it doesn't, but I just wanted to point out that's not how the human body works. I don't wanna sound like a douche, I just want to shed some light that the body responds to most things dynamically in response to the exposure amount.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

No research has ever shown hair loss to be a side effect. It's bro science. It's bald guys going bald already looking for something to blame it on.

That may be technically true, but there is the infamous rugby study that showed an increase in DHT which does contribute to hair loss.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19741313

 

[SociallyChallenged]

That may be technically true, but there is the infamous rugby study that showed an increase in DHT which does contribute to hair loss.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19741313

Yeah, you're right, DHT has been shown to increase hair loss. Creatine is currently loosely linked to DHT though. There definitely needs to be more research confirming that link before people stop the presses and completely re-think creatine supplementation. If your genetics are fairly good, then you're not going to go bald. If you think you may be predisposed to going bald, it's some food for thought.

 

[Carfax83]

I've been taking 5 grams of Creatine monohydrate (MicroPure) everyday for how many years now, and I've never experienced hair loss of any sort.

Creatine is one of the best supplements you can take, and as long as you drink plenty of water (I drink at least a gallon a day), then you should have no problems.

 

[spamsk8r]

I've been taking 5 grams of Creatine monohydrate (MicroPure) everyday for how many years now, and I've never experienced hair loss of any sort.

Creatine is one of the best supplements you can take, and as long as you drink plenty of water (I drink at least a gallon a day), then you should have no problems.

I'm in the same boat. Been taking creatine for about 4 years, still have thick luxurious man hair.

 

[SaurusX]

I'm bumping this thread, because I mentioned my creatine hair loss issue in ATOT. In my mid-twenties I started thinning up top and I attribute it entirely to the creatine supplements that I was taking post-workout. Once I realized what was happening, and had it confirmed by my barber, I cut the creatine immediately. It took about a year, but my hair slowly returned to normal. Given that I changed nothing else I KNOW that creatine CAN cause hair loss in some people. Take it at your own risk, imo.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I'm bumping this thread, because I mentioned my creatine hair loss issue in ATOT. In my mid-twenties I started thinning up top and I attribute it entirely to the creatine supplements that I was taking post-workout. Once I realized what was happening, and had it confirmed by my barber, I cut the creatine immediately. It took about a year, but my hair slowly returned to normal. Given that I changed nothing else I KNOW that creatine CAN cause hair loss in some people. Take it at your own risk, imo.

You're wrong, but thanks for playing.

 

[classy]

No research has ever shown hair loss to be a side effect. It's bro science. It's bald guys going bald already looking for something to blame it on.

I think you are spot on. I have never heard of this ever, especially when you considered people who have adequate amount of red meat in their diet get quite a bit of creatine anyway.

 

[tedrodai]

Glad your hair grew back, but the fact that you stopped taking creatine beforehand is hardly proof of a correlation.

 

[SaurusX]

Glad your hair grew back, but the fact that you stopped taking creatine beforehand is hardly proof of a correlation.

Granted. My experience is purely anecdotal and hardly scientific, but I know that I'll never touch creatine again. The connection is strong enough for me.

 

[tedrodai]

Fair enough. I'm not saying you're wrong either, but there's just not enough info to know for certain.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Fair enough. I'm not saying you're wrong either, but there's just not enough info to know for certain.

I'm saying he's wrong. There is no mechanism by which it can cause hair loss.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I'm saying he's wrong. There is no mechanism by which it can cause hair loss.

Actually, there is. However, the study looks at creatine and DHT. DHT in itself is correlated with increased risk of baldness. More studies need to be done looking directly at DHT and baldness, but there IS a possible mechanism.

 

[Whisper]

Actually, there is. However, the study looks at creatine and DHT. DHT in itself is correlated with increased risk of baldness. More studies need to be done looking directly at DHT and baldness, but there IS a possible mechanism.

Yeah, that's the rub. There's a possible mechanism, but there are so many steps between creatine and hair-loss that it's still impossible to say. After all, keep in mind that it's just one study, and that it looked only at 20 individuals who were members of a very, very select group (i.e., young-adult male athletes in a particular geographic region). Generalizability just isn't warranted.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Actually, there is. However, the study looks at creatine and DHT. DHT in itself is correlated with increased risk of baldness. More studies need to be done looking directly at DHT and baldness, but there IS a possible mechanism.

So you're saying I've got a chance.

/dumbanddumber

 

[JackBurton]

Took it for years with no issues.

 

[hairforumuser83]

Hey man,

Not sure if you're still a member of this forum or not, but figured I'd reach out- kinda going through the same situation. Mind if I email you to discuss? I'm curious about your experience, the factors surrounding it and your recovery, and anything else you're willing to share.

I'm bumping this thread, because I mentioned my creatine hair loss issue in ATOT. In my mid-twenties I started thinning up top and I attribute it entirely to the creatine supplements that I was taking post-workout. Once I realized what was happening, and had it confirmed by my barber, I cut the creatine immediately. It took about a year, but my hair slowly returned to normal. Given that I changed nothing else I KNOW that creatine CAN cause hair loss in some people. Take it at your own risk, imo.

 

[hairforumuser83]

Curious to connect with any/everyone who's suffered legit creatine hair loss and what happened next.