Your body naturally produces creatine, which plays a role in energy production for your skeletal muscles. Commercially manufactured creatine claims to improve the energy output of strength athletes and improve muscle growth. Creatine ester, or creatine ethyl ester, is a derivative of creatine that claims to have a higher absorption rate and efficiency than normal creatine. Side effects may include water retention, impaired kidney function, energy loss and mood swings. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
Excess Water Retention
Creatine ethyl ester, as well as other forms of creatine, may cause you to retain water and gain water weight. Excess water can give you the feeling of being bloated and uncomfortable. Creatine ethyl ester can pull water into your muscles, which may leave less water for the rest of your body to use for metabolic processes. As a result, creatine ethyl ester supplementation may increase your risk of dehydration.
Impaired Kidney Function
Creatine ethyl ester supplementation may place extra stress on your kidneys as a result of the excess water retention. Some creatine ethyl ester users report an increase in urine production during supplementation, which may be indicative of renal system stress. Although it remains unclear if creatine ethyl ester supplementation may actually damage your kidneys, it does appear that creatine supplementation, when combined with inadequate water intake, may aggravate and existing kidney or renal system condition.
Energy Loss
One of the main positive effects of creatine ethyl ester supplementation is an increase in energy potential in your skeletal muscles. Creatine increases your body's ability to produce energy more rapidly and more efficiently, possibly improving muscle strength and muscle growth potential. However, once you stop supplementing with creatine ethyl ester, the amount of creatine stored in your muscles will drop and you may experience a significant drop in energy during exercise as well as a reduction in muscle strength and power.
Mood Swings
Creatine ethyl ester supplementation has occasionally been associated with changes in your mood, behavior and aggression. The mood changes you may experience as a result of creatine supplementation may be due to the secondary effects of dehydration caused by creatine intake and a lack of fluid intake. Dehydration can cause irritability and mood changes, especially in individuals who are supplementing with creatine.
References
- "Journal of Hyperplasia Research"; Creatine: A Meta-analysis; JD King; 2005
- "Essentials of Sports Nutrition and Supplements"; Jose Antonio, Douglass Kalman, Jeffrey R. Stout, and Mike Greenwood; 2008
