Evidence Brief · Sports Nutrition

CREATINE

The most researched sports supplement on earth — and one of the few that consistently works.

Verdict: Strong evidence
What it actually is

01The energy currency

Creatine is a compound your body makes and stores in muscle. Supplementing raises your phosphocreatine reserves — the system that regenerates ATP during short, hard efforts.

Explosive effort → ATP burned → Phosphocreatine refuels it → More reps, more power

Bigger stores mean you regenerate energy faster between efforts — so you can push harder, longer, before fatigue sets in.

What the research supports

02The benefits

Strong evidence

Strength & power

Reliable gains in maximal strength and repeated high-intensity output across dozens of controlled trials.

Strong evidence

Lean muscle mass

Supports greater gains in lean mass when paired with resistance training over weeks to months.

Growing evidence

Recovery & muscle repair

May reduce markers of muscle damage and support recovery between hard sessions.

Emerging evidence

Cognition

Signals of benefit for mental fatigue and memory — strongest when sleep-deprived or under stress.

How to take it

03The protocol

Keep it simple. Creatine monohydrate is the gold-standard form — cheapest, most studied, and no evidence that pricier versions work better.

3–5g
Daily · every day
The only number most people need. Take it consistently — muscles fully saturate in about 3–4 weeks.
20g
Optional loading
Split into 4 doses/day for 5–7 days to saturate faster, then drop to maintenance.
Any
Time of day
Timing barely matters. Total daily intake and consistency are what count.

Loading is a shortcut, not a requirement. Skipping it reaches the same saturation — just a couple of weeks slower, and often with less bloating.

Setting the record straight

04Myths vs. facts

MYTH"Creatine damages your kidneys."
Not in healthy people. Decades of research show no harm to kidney function at recommended doses. Those with existing kidney disease should check with their physician first.
MYTH"It's only for bodybuilders."
False. Endurance athletes, older adults, and everyday people benefit — from power and recovery to cognitive support.
MYTH"The weight gain is fat."
It's water — inside the muscle. A small early rise (often ~1–2 kg) is intracellular fluid, not fat. Many people notice nothing at all.
MYTH"You must cycle on and off."
No need. Daily use is safe long-term. Stopping just lets stores gradually return to baseline.