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
Exercise performance
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
- 17
- Human comparison publications
- 3
- Publications needing review
- 10
Findings in the studies
mean power output
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Creatine monohydrate versus placebo during repeated-sprint testing
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- After supplementation before repeated-sprint test
peak anaerobic cycling power
- 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.
peak and mean power output during repeated sprints
- No clear difference from the comparison group was found.General population · Single ingredient · 7 days
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: creatine monohydrate versus placebo
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- 7 days
Outcome needs clarification
About this measure
Original outcome name: AMP
Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
- A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.General population · Single ingredient
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Changes within the same group were compared. · Study comparison: Creatine-alone across trials; abstract does not report direct placebo contrast for AMP
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- four-day loading; post-supplementation
Other measured outcomes (3)
PPO
Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
- A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.General population · Single ingredient · After 14 days
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Changes within the same group were compared. · Study comparison: Within-arm pre/post increase reported for creatine but not placebo; direct between-group PPO estimat
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- After 14 days
SPPB scores
Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
- A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.Patient group · Single ingredient · baseline to week 8
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Clinical trial
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Changes within the same group were compared. · Within-group comparison
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- baseline to week 8
performance enhancement
Research with unclear study subject or type
- Results for this measurement were mixed; no consistent conclusion can be drawn.varied trial periods
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Systematic review
- Study population
- Recorded population category: General population. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
- Ingredients tested
- Unknown intervention
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: alternative creatine forms versus placebo; only three trials directly compared with creatine monohyd
- Measurement time
- varied trial periods
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (8)
- ABK performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
- aerobic power achieved at W8 · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Exercise performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
- Jumping performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- lean mass · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- maximum weight lifted · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- strength · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- TBW · 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 a within-group change in AMP.
Single-ingredient studies · Human studies · within-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 17 · distinct papers 17 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 3 · papers needing additional review 10
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.
- ABK performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- aerobic power achieved at W8: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- AMP: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Exercise performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Jumping performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- lean mass: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- maximum weight lifted: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- mean power output: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- peak anaerobic cycling power: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- peak and mean power output during repeated sprints: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- performance enhancement: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- PPO: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- SPPB scores: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- strength: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- TBW: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
What the research found
peak and mean power output during repeated sprints
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General 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.
AMP
A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Within-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.
mean power output
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General 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.
peak anaerobic cycling power
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.
PPO
A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Within-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.
performance enhancement
Results for this measurement were mixed; no consistent conclusion can be drawn.
Review · Unknown intervention · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
SPPB scores
A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Patient group
Within-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.
ABK performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
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.
aerobic power achieved at W8
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
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.
Exercise performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Jumping performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
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.
lean mass
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Within-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.
maximum weight lifted
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
strength
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
TBW
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Within-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.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
2 papers · 2 measured outcomes
2 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.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
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.