Creatine's Effect on Blood Pressure

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, half of your body's creatine is created naturally. The remainder is ingested from food products. Creatine is stored in your muscles.

Significance

• Creatine supplements are popular among bodybuilders and other athletes. Creatine can increase muscle mass and strength.

Blood Pressure

• When your muscle cells break down, creatinine, a product of creatine phosphate in muscle, is created as a waste byproduct. In a study on blood pressure and serum creatinine conducted by Dr. Thomas V. Perneger, blood pressure was found to be related to creatinine levels in the body.

  Creatinine levels in the body can increase during creatine supplementation. This might occur because of increased muscle turnover or an increase in training.

  High blood pressure can impair kidney function. Impaired kidneys cannot effectively remove waste from the body.

Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation

• A McMaster University study of short-term creatine monohydrate supplementation in men and women showed no effect on blood pressure. The subjects in this study took creatine for only five days.

Precautions

• Creatine supplements should not be taken by anyone with a history of high blood pressure, kidney problems or liver disease. Consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Drug Interactions

• Creatine supplementation can lead to kidney damage when taken with these medications: cimetidine, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and probenecid.

  Creatine in combination with caffeine, ephedra, or central nervous system stimulants can lead to stroke.