Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
Creatine
Selected research topic
Bone, joint, and mobility
Findings differ across measurements or study conditions. The results below keep them separate.
Some findings concern patients or people with a deficiency.
- Publications for this topic
- 3
- Human comparison publications
- 2
- Publications needing review
- 1
Findings in the studies
BMD of the femoral neck
- No clear difference from the comparison group was found.Patient group · Single ingredient · Two years
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Creatine plus exercise versus placebo plus exercise
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- Two years
Knee extensor muscle thickness
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (1)
- aBMD · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.
Representative outcome and study details
Human studies reported no clear between-group difference in BMD of the femoral neck.
Single-ingredient studies · Human studies · Includes patient groups · between-group comparison
1 publications linked to this result
- Route, form, dose, or population details are incomplete, so the findings cannot be confirmed as directly comparable.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: B
The 65.2 evidence score includes 9 independent human studies and 9 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The B tier remains conservative because of limited repetition across independent human clinical studies.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 77
Papers linked to this topic 3 · distinct papers 3 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 2 · papers needing additional review 1
A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- aBMD: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- BMD of the femoral neck: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Knee extensor muscle thickness: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
What the research found
BMD of the femoral neck
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Knee extensor muscle thickness
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
aBMD
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
No reviewed caution rules are available yet. Reported caution findings are shown below.
Review 3 combination findings and 0 findings that outperformed an ingredient alone.
Findings to review with care
Side effects reported for the ingredient alone are separated from findings involving another supplement or medication.
Side effects reported with this ingredient alone
Symptoms or adverse events reported in studies without another active ingredient.
Gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle cramping1 papers
Creatine monohydrate was well tolerated but gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle cramping were reported as possibly related adverse events.Human studies · Randomized controlled trialReported improvements with combinations
Combination findings are grouped by how the study compared them. This is not a recommendation to combine ingredients.
Combinations with reported improvement
The combination showed improvement, but each ingredient's contribution is unclear.
HMBCombined supplementation of HMB and Creatine monohydrate showed a synergistic effect on aerobic power at W8, W4, and WAT compared to the sum of effects from single supplements.
탄산수소나트륨Combined creatine and sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly improved 30-m sprint and arrowhead agility performance in elite soccer players compared to placebo.
D-리보스A double-blind RCT in 53 patients with ischemic heart disease found that a combination supplement containing D-ribose, creatine, and vitamins improved cardiac double product and exercise tolerance compared to placebo, though the authors note the surrogate measure requires further validation.