Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine or methyl guanidine – acetic acid is a natural energy providing protein which is found in the bodies of vertebrates. Methionine, Arginine and Glycine combine in the liver to form the metabolite we know as creatine.  Ones diet also acts as a source of creatine. Health freaks, body builders and athletes take creatine as a dietary supplement to gain energy for workouts. Skeletal muscles store around 95% of the body’s creatine while the rest is stored in various other parts.

Though creatine is allegedly free of side effects, users have reported several counter effects of creatine. Though most of the side effects reported are not serious and not for a long term, it is advised that users carefully evaluate the use of creatine for their work out regime. Also, physicians and trainers should be contacted to ascertain the dosage and the time of taking creatine.

There have been reports from users of upset stomach, diarrhea, cramps, and bloating of the body when starting off on creatine monohydrate, but these side effects become fewer as the body gets used to the supplement. Due to the property of creatine by which lean muscle mass is increased by water retention, some users have experienced obesity and reports of dehydration are also there.

Anger and aggressive behavior seems to be one of the most reported side effect among users, both male and female. A reason for this could be the increase of testosterone levels in the users. Testosterone – a male hormone, besides being responsible for growth of muscle mass, increased bone density and development of sex organs, is also said to increase aggressiveness in behavior. Independent users have claimed that they suffered from bouts of depression, and increased aggressiveness when they took creatine. When they stopped taking creatine, or when they took a break from creatine, they felt “happy” and “light”. The bouts of depression returned when creatine intake was resumed.

An independent study proclaimed that increased mood swings, depression and anger in creatine users is found because creatine users fail to drink enough water while taking creatine. The study stated that dehydration was the main reason behind such mood swings and, though creatine users are usually advised to drink lots of water, few comply with the advise. It has been recommended that to mitigate side effects, creatine should be taken in a cycle. In the 1st phase or the loading creatine should be taken in large quantities to ‘shock’ the body into accepting it. In the 2nd phase or maintenance phase intake should be lower. After this, creatine intake should be stopped for a period, and then the cycle should be renewed.

To alleviate such mood swings, creatine should be used responsibly and and physicians suggest that the ideal way to do this would be to limit dosages during the cycling of creatine. Users should limit intake to 3 to 5 grams almost every day for three weeks followed by 3 grams two to four times a week. It is also recommended that users take a break from creatine for at least a week, in a month.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 8th, 2008 at 7:31 am and is filed under Creatine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.