Creatine Question

[Carmen Malcolm]

Hello Everyone

I'd been supplementing with Creatine HCL for about five months (continuous, no cycling).

I like the supplement very much - have experienced no adverse side affects. I've gained lean muscle mass, look and feel better and my strength has improved too.

However, I stopped taking it about two weeks ago. I read and heard conflicting reports - that taking it long-term was damaging to your kidneys, that by supplementing continuously your body would eventually 'forget' how to
produce creatine itself and that creatine supplementation could even cause hair loss - as a girl that freaks me out!

Could someone please set the record straight? What is fact and what is fiction?

Thanks in advance, Carmen

[John Drohan]

Most research today indicates that creatine is possibly one of the safest supplements to take:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine (WFS)

If you are really worried, you can always go get a standard blood test from your physician to see how your kidney and liver functions are relative to the norm.

[Luke Sirakos]

Check out examine.com for all your supplement questions (wfs)

They are researched based and non-biased as they have no financial interest in supplement companies. The short answer is you are fine to take it, make sure you are getting enough water.

[David Meverden]

Yes, very safe, even for long term use.

Creatine has been exhaustively studied for safety and efficacy, though those studies do tend to use Creatine Monohydrate, not HCL. I've never seen anything to indicate that the HCL is less safe, it's just less studied. I've also never seen anything to indicate it's more effective. I just stick to the monohydrate, myself. But who knows.

[Chris Mason]

HCL is a waste of money. Get aNOPE creatine monohydrate product and save money and get the same results.

As others noted, a very safe supplement.

[Dare Vodusek]

Why is creapure better than "normal" creatine mono?

[Mike Carter]

Originally Posted by Dare Vodusek

Why is creapure better than "normal" creatine mono?

It is a patented "pharmaceutical grade" creatine monohydrate made by a German company.

For a great review of supplements check out labdoor.com (SFW) It grades supplements based upon purity, safety, label accuracy etc....

Here is a review from the mayo clinic on creatine
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supp...e/hrb-20059125
(SFW)

[Dare Vodusek]

Yes, but is it worth almodt double the price of creatine mono? In what terms is it better, besides the purity? Is less than 5g daily recommended, etc?

[Luke Sirakos]

I mean it is dirt cheap as is, might as well get stuff that isn't full of impurities

[Shawn M Wilson]

This discussion has happened countless times on this board. In the end anything over 5-10g gets removed from your system via urine. Some say it's so cheap who cares and they know they are getting the max retainment of it.

You can google also and find that the expensive junk isn't any better than a good mono hydrate