Information on Creatine
June 19, 2008
Creatine consists of three amino acids: arginine, glycine and methionine. Our bodies naturally produce creatine to supply our muscles with energy. After production in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas, creatine flows to our muscles via the blood stream.
Creatine Information
Animal Model Data
RODENT: MPTP produces neurotoxic effects by disrupting mitochondrial energy production. Once MPTP is converted to MPP+, it blocks mitochondrial energy production through the inhibition of complex I of the electron transport chain, ultimately leading to neuronal injury.
Creatine information has demonstrated efficacy for prevention of MPTP-induced neuronal injury in rats.1,2 Rats given a 1% creatine diet for 2 weeks experienced only a 10% loss of DA neurons after MPTP administration (not significantly different from non-MPTP treated animals) in contrast to a 70% neuronal loss among those not supplemented with creatine.
Creatine Side Effects
Use of creatine as a food supplement is on the rise. Despite its usefulness, creatine is found to have some side effects albeit few. The most common side effect is weight gain due to more water in the muscle and increase in the lean-muscle tissue. Other side effects observed were dehydration, muscle cramps, nausea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal distress and seizures. For persons with existing kidney or renal disorders, creatine was found to cause renal stress because of more stress on the kidneys.
Creatine known to enhance performance when taken as a body building supplement
Standard creatine dosing found in body building supplements can lead to enhanced athletic performance. However, this creatine-induced performance is typically limited to short anaerobic bursts of energy. Use of creatine in long-distance running and lengthy aerobic workouts has been shown to be ineffective.
Creatine Cycling
Some athletes (especially bodybuilders) have noticed that, after the initial stunning gains using creatine, they hit a plateu and the gains become marginally higher than those without creatine. They have developed a theory that the body somehow gets used to the substance and thus isn’t extracting the full effect.
To prevent this, a stop-period is included, usually after 6 weeks of creatine usage. This lasts 2 weeks, and is again followed by a loading phase after which you continue with a normal daily uptake of the supplement.
How it changed muscle building
Users of Creatine, especially in its pure 100% monohydrate format started getting great results from Creatine. Scientists soon discovered that mixing Creatine with certain high sugar juices increased the effectiveness of Creatine sometimes by as much as 90%. Pure Creatine mixed with Grape or Apple juice was (and still is) one of the best body building supplements you can take.
If you had/have never used Creatine monohydrate, then you really need to experience its effects to see for yourself and feel it inside your body. There are very few experiences, esepcially in body building as unusual and memorable as the first few times you use Creatine. The feeling and effects are just unreal.
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