What Does Creatine Actually Do?

Ashwin Rodrigues
·4 min read

The mention of creatine might conjure the image of a flavorless white powder that adds a certain sand-like quality to your post-gym protein shake, but the compound is also found in foods like milk, red meat, and certain fish. The human body also synthesizes creatine on its own in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas—up to 1 gram per day. If you think your body doesn’t contain creatine because you abstain from any powders or capsules—guess again, meathead. You contain creatine.

The recommended daily dose is 3 to 5 grams per day, and relying on food sources alone to hit this mark can be unwieldy (for example, it might take a heaping 32 ounces of steak). That's why it’s popular as a standalone supplement.

Once ingested or synthesized, creatine is converted to creatine phosphate and stored mostly in skeletal muscle (your muscle muscles like biceps, quadriceps, etc.), but is also found in the brain.

There are many different types of creatine supplements, but the one that is most recommended and readily available is creatine monohydrate. There are other versions that are more expensive, but creatine monohydrate is the one that has been studied the most, by far—other formulations mostly vary in their price points and water solubility, as one Examine article points out.

Creatine is largely thought of as an ergogenic aid, simply meaning it enhances performance. Creatine evangelists will tell you that creatine is one of the most studied supplements of all time. And they’re right. But what does creatine actually do?

During high-intensity workouts, like a 5x5 lifting program or some 100 meter sprints, your body uses the phosphocreatine stored in your muscles as a source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the unit of energy relied upon to carry out cellular processes. Having stores of phosphocreatine available in the muscle helps eke out a couple more reps during a heavy lifting session, increases muscle mass, and aids in muscle recovery, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Depending on your age and level of education in biochemistry (or lack of time logged on Bodybuilding.com) you might think creatine is a steroid-adjacent compound. Some of us were told by high school classmates that creatine is a steroid, one that you’re not supposed to take one that might’ve gotten you in trouble for taking as a high school football bulking protocol. This notion is likely a blend of myth and truth, as creatine is definitively not a steroid—but some high schools have historically discouraged its use or banned its promotion.

Darren Candow, PhD, a professor of exercise physiology and metabolism at the University of Regina in Canada, told GQ that there are some common misconceptions that the average person might have about creatine, namely that it causes baldness, kidney and liver issues, fat gain, and water retention. But when asked who might benefit from adding creatine to their stack, Candow’s answer was, well, everyone. “There is evidence-based research that everyone can potentially experience some benefits, in one form or another,” though he also noted that people with pre-existing kidney or liver issues should consult their doctor.

The most-proven benefits of creatine supplementation, according to Candow, is that creatine “increases measures of muscle strength and muscle mass, preserves bone mass and strength,” but the compound can also have brain health benefits. Candow’s main area of focus is creatine monohydrate, with a long list of published work to show for it, ranging from the compound’s effect on aging muscles and bones, brain health, women’s health.

A Sports Medicine article co-authored by Candow in June stated that creatine supplementation can boost the brain’s creatine content, which might explain some of the promising effects on brain function. The article highlighted creatine’s promise in improving memory in aging adults, possibly alleviating concussion symptoms, and other potential targets for future study.

While the muscle-based gains of creatine are well-known, there is also emerging research, he noted, that creatine may particularly benefit sick and aging people. Creatine was previously thought of as an “athlete supplement,” Darrow said, but now it’s often considered something anyone might take for overall health.

Originally Appeared on GQ

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