What are the potential side effects of creatine supplementation?

Introduction

Creatine supplementation is widely used by athletes to enhance performance and by patients with certain medical conditions for its potential therapeutic benefits. However, concerns about its safety and potential side effects have been raised, necessitating a thorough examination of the available research.

Key Insights

Weight Gain and Water Retention:
- Creatine supplementation often results in weight gain due to water retention, which may affect performance in activities dependent on body mass .
Renal Function:
- While some case reports suggest potential renal dysfunction, including acute interstitial nephritis, most controlled studies do not find significant adverse effects on renal function in healthy individuals or patients with Parkinson's disease .
Gastrointestinal Complaints:
- Gastrointestinal issues, such as stomach discomfort, are commonly reported side effects of creatine supplementation .
Liver Function:
- Studies have not shown significant adverse effects on liver function with short to medium-term creatine supplementation.
Muscle Cramps and Other Anecdotal Effects:
- Occasional reports of muscle cramps and other minor side effects exist, but these are largely anecdotal and not consistently supported by controlled studies.
Blood Pressure and Plasma Markers:
- Acute creatine loading does not significantly affect blood pressure, plasma creatinine, or creatine kinase (CK) activity.

Conclusion

Creatine supplementation is generally well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being weight gain due to water retention and gastrointestinal complaints. While there are isolated reports of renal dysfunction, most controlled studies do not support significant adverse effects on renal or liver function. Minor side effects such as muscle cramps are occasionally reported but lack consistent evidence. Overall, creatine appears to be safe for most users when taken at recommended doses.

What are the potential side effects of creatine supplementation?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Potential Side Effects of Oral Creatine Supplementation: A Critical Review

Oral creatine supplementation may cause weight gain due to water retention, hinder performance in mass-dependent activities, and has not been studied long-term effects on kidney, liver, and other organ systems.

Long-term creatine supplementation is safe in aged patients with Parkinson disease.

Long-term creatine supplementation is safe in aged Parkinson's disease patients, with gastrointestinal complaints as the main side effect, and no altered kidney function.

Acute renal failure in a young weight lifter taking multiple food supplements, including creatine monohydrate.

Creatine supplementation may cause acute renal failure and acute interstitial nephritis, and a warning of this potential side effect should be included in product inserts.

Adverse Effects of Creatine Supplementation

Creatine supplementation does not show evidence of deleterious effects in healthy individuals, but large amounts may increase load on the liver and kidneys, requiring regular monitoring.

Acute creatine loading increases fat-free mass, but does not affect blood pressure, plasma creatinine, or CK activity in men and women.

Acute creatine loading increases fat-free mass without affecting blood pressure, renal function, or plasma creatinine activity, but may have a greater effect on men than women.

Few adverse effects of long-term creatine supplementation in a placebo-controlled trial.

Long-term creatine supplementation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis does not cause significant adverse effects or increase plasma urea levels or micro-albuminuria.

Effect of oral creatine supplementation on urinary methylamine, formaldehyde, and formate.

Oral creatine supplementation increases the excretion of potential cytotoxic compounds without causing kidney permeability issues.

Creatine Supplementation and Its Effect on Musculotendinous Stiffness and Performance

Creatine supplementation does not increase musculotendinous stiffness, and its performance enhancement in maximal power output activities does not warrant increased risk of injury.

Side effects of creatine supplementation in athletes.

Creatine supplementation may increase muscle mass, but its safety and effectiveness in maintaining kidney function remain in question.

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Renal Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Creatine supplementation does not cause renal damage in the studied amounts and durations.

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