Everything You Should Know About Creatine and Muscle Growth

BUILDING MUSCLE IS tough. We get it—spending hours in the gym and meticulous meal planning can get exhausting. It’s especially draining when you results come so slowly. There is one thing that may help boost your gains, though: creatine.

Something about taking a supplement for muscle growth can feel a little sketchy, though. It gives off a mystique similar to performance enhancing drugs—of which no one should be taking. But, the science is there when it comes to creatine. In fact, it’s one of the most studied supplements of all time. Creatine is actually an incredibly well studied and safe supplement to take if you’re looking to build your physique. It’s a compound that assists in muscle building in the body. Our bodies create about 1 gram per day in our liver, kidneys, and pancreas. We get the other half from food, according to the Cleveland Clinic. When diet falls short, though, creatine supplements are available. Adding one to your routine just might help you reap the gains you’ve been working so hard for.

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There are loads of stories and myths about the supplement. Since supplements are not government regulated, navigating what’s true and what’s false can be difficult. It’s important to understand exactly what’s going into your body before you take it, though. That’s why our experts laid out what’s true, what’s false, and all the ins and outs of creatine supplements, below.

What Is Creatine?

Creatine is an endogenous amino acid derivative produced by vertebrate animals and occurring primarily in muscle cells, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Basically it’s an acid that your body can produce, by way of your kidneys, liver, and pancreas after you eat protein. Animal proteins, particularly red meat and fish, contain creatine naturally, but you’d need to eat almost inhuman amounts of each to hit the level available in most creatine supplements.

What Does Creatine Do?

Your muscles convert creatine into phosphocreatine, which stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which provides your body with energy for short, explosive bursts of exercise.

So you do get stronger—just not immediately.

Creatine stimulates the body’s energy production, which helps fuel your muscles. That’s why some people take it as a supplement to boost their performance in the gym.

The mechanism is straightforward: If you’re able to lift more weight in the gym, you’re able to create more of the muscle fiber tears that your body can then repair and rebuild bigger and stronger after your workout.

Is Creatine Safe?

The good news is that creatine supplementation is well-studied in scientific circles (perhaps more so than any other supplement, short of protein powder). And, if you’re taking creatine supplements correctly, that science largely considers creatine safe and effective. In short, creatine, when taken as recommended, delivers on its promises of strength and muscle gain.

But them there’s the not-so-great news: You can incorrectly take creatine (read: “user error”), which can result in side effects. Take creatine the wrong way and you won’t experience the same benefits as someone who follows direction. In other words, you’re wasting your money. (And, if you’re buying the good stuff, creatine supplements aren’t cheap.)

Don’t worry, though: “You should feel good about your creatine supplementation,” says Michael Roussell, Ph.D. “Take 5 grams of creatine monohydrate with your workout shake to help you get bigger and stronger.”

Although some research has pointed to creatine’s efficacy for high-intensity, explosive exercises like sprinting, the overall results have been mixed.

Does Creatine Effect Muscle Growth?

Creatine doesn’t have the same effect in everyone who takes it, but a majority of people will gain weight by using it.

“Creatine is a quick way to add muscle, but not without some water weight, too,” Carolyn Brown, R.D., a nutrition counselor at Indigo Wellness Group. “Most people gain between two and four pounds of water retention in the first week.”

But that water weight is good. Creatine pulls more water into your muscles, making your muscles bigger and fuller.

And if you’re not gaining weight on creatine in the short-term, you may not be drinking enough water. Make sure you’re well-hydrated when you’re taking creatine supplements.

After that initial retention period, subsequent gains are due to the increase in the workload you can handle, according to Paul Greenhaff, Ph.D., professor of muscle metabolism at the University of Nottingham in England.

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Basically, if you continue pushing harder and harder in the gym, creatine will keep fueling you to greater gains.

Some people think that if they take creatine and don’t work out, they’ll put on fat—but Roussell says it isn’t true.

“Creatine contains no calories, and has no impact on your fat metabolism,” he says. “So taking creatine and not working out is just going to lead to nothing.”

That said, you can’t take creatine, not workout, and expect to gain muscle. It just doesn’t work that way.

What Are the Best Forms of Creatine?

Some forms of the supplement are indeed better than others.

“If you’re going to add a supplement in, make sure it’s creatine monohydrate,” Brown says. “A lot of other supplements out there will have a lot of junk that you don’t need, and they’ll be much more expensive.”

One category to watch out for: “pre-workout” supplements that advertise that they contain creatine. Surprise: Many of these supplements do not contain the minimum amount of the nutrient proven to be effective.

Powder is the way to go. Studies show that liquid creatine and creatine ethyl ester (CEE) are unstable and break down in your blood system. Don’t bother with them.

Chad Kerksick, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise physiology at the University of Oklahoma, recommends 100 percent pure creatine powder. Some companies add electrolytes and other ingredients, but tests indicate those do little to improve performance.

“Save money and buy creatine powder and [mix it with] fruit juice,” Kerksick says.

Fruit juice? That’s right—the sugar in the juice raises insulin levels, which helps increase creatine uptake into the muscle. It works with any carbohydrate-containing beverage though, so if fruit juice isn’t your thing, sports beverages work just fine too.

You need about 70 grams of simple sugars for every five grams of creatine, Greenhaff says. He suggests looking for a drink or supplement with 60 grams of carbs per 100 grams of product.

You’ll know the powder is of poor quality if it’s hard to dissolve and there’s residue at the bottom of your glass after you drink it. You want the powder in your muscles, not in the glass. If this happens, try a different brand.

And pills? While they’re effective, you often have to take a ton, especially during the creatine loading phase, in order to hit an effective dosage. If you love taking pills, go for it. For everyone else, powders seem to be the best bet.

Here’s a buyer’s guide for what to look for in a high-quality, effective creatine supplement.

How Much Creatine Do I Need Per Day?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s recommended to get 3 to 5 grams of creatine per day. Typically, one scope of creatine powder is enough to cover this amount. It is recommended by the National Library of Medicine to take the creatine post exercise.

Note, though, that more is not better. Take over the recommended 5 grams of creatine, and you’re simply wasting your product. The body will not use more than it needs.

What Foods Are High in Creatine?

Just as our bodies produce creatine, the chemical is also found naturally in various foods.

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“Creatine isn’t just found in supplements,” Brown says. “It’s actually found in beef, pork, and salmon.”

Try these recipes for creatine-rich meals:

• A steak dinner in one pan
• 7-ingredient pork chop
• Barbecued lemon pepper salmon filet

Those who are vegetarian or vegan, and are missing out on these kinds of foods, may greatly benefit from supplementing creatine.

Will Creatine Cause Problems With My Kidneys, Blood Sugar, or Muscle Mass?

Don’t believe everything you read on Reddit.

Researchers are constantly studying creatine for its effectiveness and safety. That’s why many trainers and health experts support the use of creatine: Studies indicate it’s safe.

“Creatine is one of the most-researched sports supplements out there,” Kerksick says. “And there’s no published literature to suggest it’s unsafe.”

There have been anecdotal reports of kidney damage, blood sugar concerns, heart problems, muscle cramps and pulls, dehydration, and diarrhea, in addition to other negative side effects. But the key word is anecdotal.

“I’m not saying people don’t experience cramps, but I don’t believe it can be very common,” Greenhaff says. “If there were any major adverse side effects, we would have seen them by now.”

Some of these conditions can be caused by consuming too much of certain vitamins, says Tod Cooperman, M.D., president of ConsumerLab.com. “Too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, and too much iron may lead to stomach problems,” he says.

To be safe, he recommends using creatine only if you are healthy and have no kidney problems. That’s because your kidneys excrete creatinine, a breakdown product of creatine.

Are There Side Effects of Taking Creatine?

Studies have found creatine to be very safe. But, if you can get big without it, there’s no real reason to spend your money on it.

Kids under age 18 should avoid creatine, though, says Jim King, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “Children are still in a growing phase, and we’re not sure what impact creatine may have on muscles and bones as they grow. I feel very strongly that middle and even high schoolers shouldn’t use it.”

Will Creatine Increase My Power, Strength, and Body Mass?

Here’s one thing all the experts can agree on: It’s impossible to say.

Creatine has different effects on every individual. Some people just don’t respond to creatine—it’s a genetic thing.

If you’ve started taking creatine, you should know if it works for you in about a week. If your training volume increases, it’s working for you. If not, you’re probably a non-responder, and taking the powder isn’t going to help you.

Diet is important. Since certain meats and seafood have high levels of creatine, vegetarians—i.e., people who don’t eat those creatine-rich foods on the reg—usually see a greater response. Those whose diets are highly carnivorous may see less change.

Of course, a healthy diet is key to anyone’s muscle-building plan. “If your diet is junk, there’s no point in adding creatine,” Kerksick says. “It’s better to eat good sources of carbohydrates and lean protein.”

In the end, creatine alone will not make you a bigger man. It’s a complement to proper diet and exercise—not a replacement.

“Only when combined with exercise does it improve the quality of training,” Greenhaff says. “You still have to do the work.”

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