Creatine anyone?

[Zstream]

So does anyone use creatine? I have been using it the past month and it feels as if I can do more lifting and heavier weights.

Is this just a placebo effect or?

 

[Deeko]

I've always felt it was just a placebo effect - it never did anything for me. But hey, if it works for you, great.

 

[gzervali2006]

I've used it before all it does is add water weight to your muscles.

 

[TallBill]

It's in my Cytogainer, so I dunno.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I've always felt it was just a placebo effect - it never did anything for me. But hey, if it works for you, great.

Some peoples creatine levels may already be naturally high and may not notice much of a difference. However, for myself and many others there is definitely a benefit and since creatine is dirt cheap I see no reason not to take it.

Creatine is also probably the most studied supplement in existence, so you're best bet is to search around pubmed and read up on some studies if you're interested.

 

[Deeko]

Yea, hey, like I said if it works for you, go for it. But it never had much of an effect on me. I actually did a report on it for a bio course in college, haha. I understand how it helps on a scientific level...it just never had a benefit for me, personally.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: Deeko
I've always felt it was just a placebo effect - it never did anything for me. But hey, if it works for you, great.

Some peoples creatine levels may already be naturally high and may not notice much of a difference. However, for myself and many others there is definitely a benefit and since creatine is dirt cheap I see no reason not to take it.

Creatine is also probably the most studied supplement in existence, so you're best bet is to search around pubmed and read up on some studies if you're interested.

Well, you can hurt your kidneys with to much. You'd have to be megadosing for an extended period, but it is possible.

 

[Eric62]

It aggravates my heart, increasing the frequency of premature atrial contractions - so I avoid it...

 

[Spamela]

it worked for me, but i quit using it. it never worked for my son.

 

[SlitheryDee]

It can give you a great feeling pump during and after workouts, but It didn't really seem to increase my strength like others claimed. It has an effect in that it changes the way your muscles feel, but I don't think you get THAT much out of it. I think that people's perceptions about how it's helping them have a lot to do with that pumped up feeling. So half placebo, half workout enhancer IMO.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
It can give you a great feeling pump during and after workouts, but It didn't really seem to increase my strength like others claimed. It has an effect in that it changes the way your muscles feel, but I don't think you get THAT much out of it. I think that people's perceptions about how it's helping them have a lot to do with that pumped up feeling. So half placebo, half workout enhancer IMO.

nismo linked a book in another thread, which I just started browsing some to see which chapters I want to read. What caught my interest immediately though, was the table above the references he linked to. Of all the supplements that claimed to help improve athletic/sports performance, only a few evidently performed as claimed in the studies, one of them was creatine Text

Of more interest to me, was another on the short list, Sodium bicarbonate, I've used it as an antacid for most my life, and had only read about it being used as a performance supplement a few years ago.

 

[coreyb]

I don't really try to notice if it works or not. I just read the science on it and that shows it works. So i keep using it...

 

[syzygy]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Of all the supplements that claimed to help improve athletic/sports performance, only a few evidently performed as claimed in the studies, one of them was creatine Text

nice link . . . the whole book is laid out there, jeez.

who has the patience and strong enough eyes to pick through all those on-line pages, lol.

 

[slimrhcp]

I have always responded well to regular creatine monohydrate. I know there are several different types of creatine being marketed now that supposedly work for people that are not as responsive to traditional creatine.

 

[The Sauce]

I researched the whole creatine thing scientifically. I am a physician. The literature out there on creatine supplementation is pretty good and does show performance enhancement. Creatine is just about the only thing that does (read: glutamine, beta-alanine, arginine, tyrosine...don't.)

There have been two published case reports of interstitial nephritis thought to be associated with creatine use. I read them both. That is out of millions of people using it. It is also not at all certain that it was the creatine that caused the problem since they were using lots of other supplements at the same time. Taking creatine transiently increases your creatinine levels, and creatinine is what is measured to gague kidney function. Hence it was thought that creatine damaged kidneys. This has been proven false and is essentially a lab error related to a secondary measure of kidney function (creatinine clearance).

Creatine is safe. There are about 15% of people who do not benefit from its use as they are already carrying peak levels at baseline. Others should see nice gains in repetitive activities such as weight training and strength-based sports.

cheers.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: The Sauce
I researched the whole creatine thing scientifically. I am a physician. The literature out there on creatine supplementation is pretty good and does show performance enhancement. Creatine is just about the only thing that does (read: glutamine, beta-alanine, arginine, tyrosine...don't.)

There have been two published case reports of interstitial nephritis thought to be associated with creatine use. I read them both. That is out of millions of people using it. It is also not at all certain that it was the creatine that caused the problem since they were using lots of other supplements at the same time. Taking creatine transiently increases your creatinine levels, and creatinine is what is measured to gague kidney function. Hence it was thought that creatine damaged kidneys. This has been proven false and is essentially a lab error related to a secondary measure of kidney function (creatinine clearance).

Creatine is safe. There are about 15% of people who do not benefit from its use as they are already carrying peak levels at baseline. Others should see nice gains in repetitive activities such as weight training and strength-based sports.

cheers.

The info from a professional standpoint is much appreciated.

 

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: The Sauce
I researched the whole creatine thing scientifically. I am a physician. The literature out there on creatine supplementation is pretty good and does show performance enhancement. Creatine is just about the only thing that does (read: glutamine, beta-alanine, arginine, tyrosine...don't.)

There have been two published case reports of interstitial nephritis thought to be associated with creatine use. I read them both. That is out of millions of people using it. It is also not at all certain that it was the creatine that caused the problem since they were using lots of other supplements at the same time. Taking creatine transiently increases your creatinine levels, and creatinine is what is measured to gague kidney function. Hence it was thought that creatine damaged kidneys. This has been proven false and is essentially a lab error related to a secondary measure of kidney function (creatinine clearance).

Creatine is safe. There are about 15% of people who do not benefit from its use as they are already carrying peak levels at baseline. Others should see nice gains in repetitive activities such as weight training and strength-based sports.

cheers.

The info from a professional standpoint is much appreciated.

I concur, great post!

 

[KingGheedora]

Any brands better than others? Would creatine help with non-weightlifting activities, like boxing?

 

[MrMatt]

supplements are just that; supplements. If your diet is lacking in something they'll help. If you're already getting as much as you need of something, it won't really. I eat tons of steak & tuna. Both of those contain creatine (especially the tuna). I tried supplementing with creatine and it didn't do anything for me.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
Any brands better than others? Would creatine help with non-weightlifting activities, like boxing?

I believe it would. Many track athletes benefit from it both in and out of the weight-room so I would assume yes.

Also, MrMatt, I believe meat in general maintains a surprisingly low amount of dietary creatine. You may just be running with a high basal level of creatine by default. Sometimes people can't get enough creatine from their diet. That's why I think creatine is one of the few legitimate supplements that do a lot of good for (some) people.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: syzygy

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Of all the supplements that claimed to help improve athletic/sports performance, only a few evidently performed as claimed in the studies, one of them was creatine Text

nice link . . . the whole book is laid out there, jeez.

who has the patience and strong enough eyes to pick through all those on-line pages, lol.

Click full screen and increase the text size with the + magnifier icon.

 

[crt1530]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
Any brands better than others? Would creatine help with non-weightlifting activities, like boxing?

Re: brand differences.

Not really. Pretty much all supplement manufacturers you've heard of buy their ingredients from large manufacturers. Often, the only difference between two similar supplements is the packaging, despite all claims to the contrary. I now buy all my protein and creatine from TrueProtein.com because they have really low prices and sell you the basic ingredients without all the hype and markup.

 

[The Sauce]

Oh, BTW, the only other thing I have come across with research proven conditioning gains...H2O. Drink a lot of it while working out and you will push more weight and do more reps.

With regards to brands, I know a lot of guys who love Cell Mass. The Gaspari brand - Size On - is considered to be the highest quality but you pay for it. A month supply is about $65.