Is creatine safe? The supplement is popular with athletes, but should you take it?

Question

In the USA Today article it claims that creatine is a supplement commonly used for muscle gain and performance, which is generally safe but can cause side effects like dehydration and digestive issues. It states that you should consult a doctor if you have kidney problems prior to taking it or if you take it for a long period of time. It referenced the Mayo Clinic so that is where I fact-checked it. The Mayo Clinic states that creatine is widely studied for improving exercise performance. While safe for short-term use, concerns remain about long-term effects on kidney function. Consultations with a healthcare provider are recommended for those with kidney issues. Both articles agree that creatine is mostly safe but suggest caution, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions like kidney problems. The Mayo Clinic provides more medical context on its usage and studies. I would say the article is credible, the title could just be a little misleading. 

Comments

All of this information seems to be correct and from a trusted sources! I also did some research about this and found another website that has just about the same information and can prove that what you have found is correct. I have found that some studies seem to suggest that a large amount of people don't develop better sports performance from taking it but they do get the some of the other health benefits. There are a lot more smaller details about creatine so here's the link that I found:

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/creatine

Answer 1

After delving into the provided article by USA Today and the sources the article provided, it is generally safe to take creatine with precautions. USA Today's article explores what creatine is, the health benefits of taking creatine, and even potentially the adverse side effects. Two additional sources are provided along with expert opinions given by three registered dietitians from various clinics. The first source mentioned is the Mayo Clinic. The article links research the Mayo Clinic has conducted regarding creatine's effects. There were various positive effects creatine had; such as improving performance during cognitive tasks, reducing the frequency of muscle injuries, dehydration, and many more. However, the Mayo Clinic took care to mention an older study suggested that creatine actually worsened kidney functions for specifically people with kidney disorders, although more research would need to be conducted.  

Another source USA Today's article mentioned is the National Library of Medicine. This source delves into more detail regarding creatine and even its functions. Essentially, the National Library of Medicine concludes to the same consensus as the Mayo Clinic, however, providing additional studies. For example, during research, studies show that heart failure patients who were given creatine supplements had improvement in muscle strength and endurance. Overall, the National Library of Medicine did find overall that creatine is generally safe, however, except for those affected by kidney damage, although more research would need to be conducted.  

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8067763/ 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20347591 

https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article-abstract/30/3/413/266218?redirectedFrom=fulltext  

Comments

This fact check does a solid job of analyzing the safety of creatine use by referencing reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine. Both agree that creatine is generally safe but should be used cautiously, particularly for individuals with kidney disorders. The inclusion of expert opinions from dietitians and detailed studies enhances the credibility of the claim. However, as with many supplements, further research is warranted, especially in specific populations like those with pre-existing health conditions. Overall, this is a balanced and well-sourced fact check.

Answer 2

I found multiple different sources that validate the claim. Many different medical resources have made similar conclusions that creatine is safe to use but should be taken with caution and also the effects depend on the individual. I wonder if USA Today could've cited more sources for the studies mentioned supporting the claims for creatine.

Link to more evidence:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17674-creatine

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/creatine

Comments

Did you find the claim to be false or true?

Answer 3

Creatine has been a topic of discussion at any gym or with any influencer or any personal trainer. This is because creatine affects the kidneys in some cases so severe because people decide to abuse the substance by taking too much and also not listening to their bodies when it does start to feel off at all. However, with that said the Mayo Clinic was correct that it is generally safe yet long term affects may vary. Mayo Clinic

Comments

I agree with the first sentence of your statement. There have been so many times when fitness influencers primarily are talking about creatine and not stating the effects of it. I wish you would've cited some sort of video or article where a fitness influencer or personal trainer stated how creatine improves your physique/the effects of taking it. There are so many side effects that are not spoken about and it isn't until a medical professional begins to speak about it or a news article is made.

Answer 4

This article is totally agreeable, as many athletes take creatine to stay ahead and at peak performance. When researching this claim many things come up accrediting that it is safe if taken in recommended dose but may have side effects. Including shown in the Healthline article of "Is Creatine safe?." Describing popular concerns and questions surrounding this supplement like Kidney and Liver damage, muscle aches, weight gain etc. Most of these things were talked about in the claim and article above, from Mayo Clinic. But also regarding the main concern and claim, "That said, it’s still best to use caution when taking creatine supplements if you have a history of liver or kidney concerns. A healthcare professional can help you decide whether creatine is right for you." Proving that the claim is agreeable and all things like creatine should be taken safely and concerns should be brought up with a medical professional.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/creatine-safety-and-side-effects#kidneys-and-liver

Comments

There are so many expert opinions when it comes to the use of creatine and I feel like people tend to not do their extended research when it comes to looking into using certain supplements, in this case, creatine. The Healthline article you linked is very informative and can give insight into the effects of creatine and overall gives people more knowledge about the supplement.

Answer 5

The USA Today article provides a base of what creatine is and how it should be taken safely while also listing the risks of using the supplement. Daryl Austin, a wellness and lifestyle contributor, provides us with multiple different professional dieticians all taken from their works. Tara Schmidt provides information about what is creatine and the Mayo Clinic, where Schmidt works, explains how the right serving size of creatine shouldn't have long-term effects. A WebMD article also states the same thing about how it all depends on how much you are taking. 

The same WebMD article states that people with kidney disease should take precautions to take creatine and should seek medical professional's opinions before attempting to take the supplement. It also goes into depth on whether or not specific people should begin to take creatine, the same thing is touched upon in the USA Today article.

Overall, the USA Today article is credible and gives decent backing evidence. It also states that it is safe to take in moderation but consult your doctor to see if it can work for you. 

https://www.usatoday.com/staff/11795921002/daryl-austin/

https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/authors/tara-schmidt-m-ed-rdn/

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-873/creatine