An update to the current literature regarding the role and safety of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine is provided and the position stand of International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) is updated.
Creatine
Exercise performance and recovery is the main area connected here, and any felt benefit should be read together with the human evidence base.
Representative tier calculated from paper evidence that passed the collection audit.
Main benefit evidence
The representative ingredient tier is calculated from these target-level evidence groups.
Exercise performance and recovery9 studiesTier-AExercise performance and recoveryFairly consistent positive signal in studiesFelt benefit focusSupplement contextPotential benefit studied in Exercise performance and recovery.Open metrics>
Stress and mood2 studiesTier-CStress Response and Sleep ChangesFairly consistent positive signal in studiesFelt benefit focusPatient-group studyThese findings come from stress response, cortisol, anxiety, or sleep outcomes. They may mix felt benefits with physiological markers.Open metrics>
Condition-specific evidence2 studiesTier-CCondition-specific health context in a specific contextFairly consistent positive signal in studiesResearch marker focusSupplement contextThis result was studied for Condition-specific health context in a narrower population or condition-specific context. It should not be generalized as an everyday supplement effect.Closer to a research marker than a directly felt benefit.Open metrics>
Cognition and focus2 studiesTier-CCognition, memory, and focusSome positive signal observedFelt benefit focusSupplement contextPotential benefit studied in Cognition and focus.Open metrics>
Fatigue and energy1 studiesTier-CFatigue and energySome positive signal observedFelt benefit focusSupplement contextPotential benefit studied in Fatigue and energy.Open metrics>
Bone and joint health1 studiesTier-CBone, joint, and mobilitySome positive signal observedFelt benefit focusSupplement contextPotential benefit studied in Bone and joint health.Open metrics>
Recent research
10 new papers were added in this period. No new risk signal was identified.
What's new
Most notable recent finding
Study dosage range (reference only)
Key cautions to review
Standalone side-effect signals and combination cautions are listed separately.
Side-effect and combination signals
No standalone side-effect or combination signal is currently clear enough to show from the collected papers. This does not mean there is no concern.
Evidence summaries
Paper IDs and full lists are private. Only study types and summaries are shown.
It is shown that creatine supplementation increases lean tissue mass and upper and lower body muscular strength during resistance training of older adults, but potential mechanisms by which creatine exerts these positive effects have yet to be evaluated extens
An internationally renowned team of research experts was formed to perform an evidence-based scientific evaluation of the literature regarding creatine supplementation, which shows that creatine supplementation is relatively well tolerated, especially at recom
3 more summariesLimited representative sample by study type.>
There is a potential for creatine supplementation to improve cognitive processing, especially in conditions characterized by brain creatine deficits, which could be induced by acute stressors or chronic, pathologic conditions.
Accumulating evidence suggests that exogenous creatine supplementation has the potential to increase aging muscle mass, muscle performance, and decrease the risk of falls and possibly attenuate inflammation and loss of bone mineral.
The researchers attempted to review the literature on the effects of creatine supplementation and physical exercise on oxidative stress and found that creatine supplement consumption may have a synergistic effect with training, but the intensity and duration o