Roll Call

Creatine Monohydrate — answers to creatine

Synthetic

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The most-studied form of creatine, a compound the muscles use to regenerate energy during brief, intense effort.

Why it’s used

Taken to support strength and power in short, high-intensity exercise.

What the evidence is for

improving performance in high-intensity, short-duration exercise.

What the evidence says

Creatine monohydrate improves strength, power, and performance in repeated short bursts of intense exercise. It offers little benefit for endurance sports such as distance running or swimming. The main side effect is weight gain from water retention.

Dose studied

3000–5000 mg — 3–5 g/day maintenance dose studied for performance (a short ~20 g/day loading phase is also used), per NIH ODS.

Context

Studied protocols use a loading phase of about 20 g/day for 5–7 days followed by 3–5 g/day maintenance, or 3–6 g/day taken steadily without a loading phase.

Educational information, not medical or safety advice. Consult a professional for allergies or medical concerns.