Creatine Facts – are There Any Bad Effects of Creatine?

“Creatine is the best bodybuilding supplement you should take”

 

“Creatine can help build those muscles you wanted”

 

“Gain weight and muscles is easy, just take creatine!”

 

Well if you are looking to gain some muscles, then these advise or remarks would not be something new to you.

 

Chances are you are now contemplenting as to whether to start taking those creatine as advised but just something is holding you back.

 

“Is creatine safe? Are there any bad effects of creatine?

 

Well, if that’s what you are concern about, then this article may be just what you are looking for. Read on to find the answers to your questions:

 

First and foremost, creatine is not something new that has just “sprang” up in the supplements market. Its use dated way back but was actually popularised in 1992 when it was disclosed that 2 Olympic gold medalists have actually consumed creatine prior to wining the medals. From then on, creatine has been very popular among bodybuilders and competitive atheletes because it accelerates gains in muscle size and strength compared to exercise alone.

 

Side effects of creatineWell to say that creatine is free of adverse or side effects is far from the truth. There are claims that creatine users do experience some kind of side effects and these include nausea, vomiting, cramps, upset stomach, mood swing. However, based on a recent study, published in the September 2004 issue of the International Journal of Sports Medicine, it shows that creatine side effects are actually rare.

 

For example, a group involving 175 subjects received either 10 grams of creatine or placebo daily for an average period of 310 days. Other than diarrhea and nausea reported in 3 individuals, there were no other significant differences between the groups.

 

Over the last few years a number carefully controlled studies have begun to release results of short- (five days), medium- (nine weeks) and long-term (up to five years), but so far there is yet any strong supportive evidences to demonstrate that creatine supplementation has any adverse effects on blood pressure, kidney or liver function in healthy individuals.

 

The bottom line

Of course,the fact that large trials have yet to find any serious creatine side effects doesn’t mean that none exist. Hence, for anyone who wanted to start on creatine supplementation, it would be advisable to always seek medical advice, especially so for those with pre-existing medical problems, before using creatine.