About the Positive Effects of Creatine

Creatine is a naturally occurring substance that helps supply energy to nerve and muscle cells. Creatine is commonly used as a nutritional supplement by body builders to increase muscle mass and facilitate high-intensity workouts.

Identification

• Creatine is naturally synthesized by the human body from three different amino acid precursors: glycine, arginine and methionine. Biosynthesis accounts for half of the creatine present int he body; the rest is obtained from food. Creatine, along with the enzyme creatine kinase, work to keep the ATP/ADP ratio high in areas of the cell where energy is needed; a high ATP/ADP ratio is critical for ensuring cellular function during times of high energy need.

Function

• ATP is one of nature's primary way of storing and utilizing energy. ATP is used by the body for almost any sort of work or exertion, but especially during periods of high energy use, such as exercise or weight-lifting. Creatine works by "buffering" the system, which helps to recharge and replenish the stores of ATP when they would otherwise become depleted. Promoters of creatine supplements (usually creatine monohydrate or creatine ethyl ester) claim that it is useful not only for bodybuilders and athletes but for anyone who exercises.

History

• The concept of creatine supplements was first conceived in 1912 by Harvard researchers who discovered that ingesting creatine could raise its levels in muscle tissue. Creatine first became widely publicized after the 1992 Olympics, when several newspaper and magazine articles reported that certain gold-medal athletes, including two sprinters, had used creatine as part of their training for the Olympics. In 1998, a new type of the supplement incorporated creatine with a high level of carbohydrates and lipoic acid, which had been shown to increase creatine levels in muscle tissue.

Effects

• Creatine is often used as a supplement by people looking to increase their muscle mass. Increased levels of creatine can increase muscle power during aerobic exercise. Creatine usage has also been linked to increase of muscle mass, although at least some of that has been suggested to be a result of increased water retention. Increased creatine levels have also been linked to a rise in "satellite" cells, which help repair and strengthen fibers during exercise, allowing them to grow more. Creatine supplementing is not considered to be doping and is not banned by the majority of major sports bodies.

Warning

• Current studies suggest that short-term use of creatine has no serious side effects; other ongoing research has concluded that there are no serious health risks with long term use. Muscle cramping, however, has been linked with creatine usage. As a result, proper hydration is very important during creatine use. Creatine supplements have been shown to increase the concentration of creatine in the urine, which could be damaging to the kidneys either through direct damage to the renal tubules (where urine is created) or through the formation of kidney stones. In addition, experiments with rats have suggested that the use of creatine can accelerate the growth of cysts in Polycystic Kidney Disease.