Creatine is an amino acid used as a supplement to enhance muscle growth and power, and MayoClinic.com experts say creatine monohydrate is one of the most popular supplements among athletes. Although it's technically a supplement, creatine is included in MayoClinic.com's information on the risks of performance-enhancing drugs. Creatine may cause a number of side effects, from mild to severe, while also presenting a risk for drug interactions.
Creatine
Creatine is a naturally occurring amino acid. It is available in dietary sources, such as fish and meat; but your body also makes creatine in your kidneys, liver and pancreas. Research shows creatine benefits athletes by promoting the production of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is responsible for storing and transporting energy in cells. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, creatine may be useful in building lean muscle mass and enhancing performance requiring short bursts of intense energy.
FDA Regulation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, receives its authority to monitor supplements from the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which gives the agency the power to ensure supplement manufacturers are marketing safe products. However, the FDA is not responsible for regulating supplements as it does prescription medications or other foods. According to MayoClinic.com, cases have been reported of contamination of creatine supplements with other chemicals that may result in a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.
Side Effects
Creatine, as with any supplement, may cause adverse side effects. Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset such as stomach cramps, diarrhea and nausea. Instances of muscle cramps and weight gain caused by fluid retention have also been reported. MayoClinic.com cautions that high doses of creatine may potentially damage the liver and kidneys. At the time of publication, long-term effects of creatine use required further study.
Drug Interactions
Consult with your doctor regarding potential drug interactions before using creatine. The University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC, cautions creatine might interact with a number of medications, increasing the potential for harm to your liver. These medications include commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen. UMMC cautions against using creatine with diuretics, cimetidine and probenecid. Using creatine with caffeine or ephedra has been associated with at least one stroke in a weightlifter, reports UMMC.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Creatine; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Possible Interactions With: Creatine; Ernest B. Hawkins, MS, BSPharm, R.Ph., and Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 2007
- MayoClinic.com; Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Know the Risks; 2010
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dietary Supplements
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