Does Creatine Make Your Penis Grow? Trust The Answer

Creatine benefits are likely the result of an increased ability to train intensely and gain strength and improve body composition as a result of such training. Creatine offers no particular benefit to a sedentary person – you need to exercise regularly when taking it to reap its rewards. It’s probably not helpful for weekend athletes either.

Its uses and side effects

Exercise experts who have studied creatine offer the following dosage recommendations to those who choose to take it: Start with 20 to 25 grams per day for five or six days, which loads muscle cells with the most creatine they can absorb. Absorption is enhanced when creatine – which can be taken in capsules, powder or other forms – is taken with a high-carb beverage, although the general advice to take it with fruit juice has been dismissed by some experts. After the loading dose, take a maintenance dose of two to five grams daily. As long as the maintenance dose is continued, cells remain saturated with creatine, these experts say.

Can you safely take it indefinitely? The answer remains unclear. What is known, however, is that taking more than the recommended amount of creatine is wasteful and can increase the chance of a side effect. Side effects reported anecdotally include gastrointestinal upset, nausea, and muscle cramps, although these effects have not been identified during scientific studies of the supplement.

However, people with kidney disease are advised not to take the supplements.

Creatine supplements also increase the likelihood of dehydration and should not be used when dehydration is a risk, such as when training in extreme heat or attempting to gain weight in wrestling.

It’s generally a good idea to have a thorough medical evaluation before starting creatine supplementation and, since there are no long-term safety studies, to have regular kidney and liver function tests and cardiac exams.

A word to wise young athletes and their parents: No studies have been conducted on the effects of creatine supplements on the growth, development, or health of children and adolescents, said Dr. William O. Roberts of MinnHealth SportsCare in White Bear Lake, Minn. , General Practitioner and Advisor to The Physician and Sportsmedicine magazine.

Also, keep in mind that because creatine is sold as a dietary supplement and not a drug, it doesn’t have to meet Food and Drug Administration purity or safety standards. Quality assurance is the responsibility of the manufacturer, and not all manufacturers are equally diligent or honorable. Be sure to choose a reputable brand; a bargain can’t be a bargain.

Does creatine increase testosterone?

According to a study, sales of fitness equipment increased by 170% during the coronavirus lockdown. That shouldn’t be too surprising considering gyms weren’t open at the time.

However, the main take-away should be that more and more people are doing sports. And that being the case, people who are new to the gym often start dipping their toes into the supplement market.

What are training supplements?

Training supplements are dietary supplements marketed to enhance both your training and performance. Dietary supplements include elements such as pre-workout, amino acids, whey protein and creatine.

What is creatine?

Of all the supplements on the market, creatine monohydrate causes a lot of confusion. Why? Well, not many people know what creatine is. The main generalization is that creatine causes you to have bigger muscles. That’s true to an extent, but that’s not all creatine is.

Creatine is a natural substance found in human muscles. It helps your body produce the energy needed to participate in heavy lifting or exercise.

What does creatine do?

As mentioned above, creatine helps your body produce enough energy to participate in intense exercise. And yes, this creatine is produced naturally, but supplementing with creatine can help your body perform at an even higher level than ever before.

When you supplement creatine, you increase the amount of stored energy in your cells. It helps the body produce high levels of adenosine 5′-triphosphate, better known as ATP.

The body relies on ATP as its “energy bank”. So when you put more creatine into your body, you are essentially adding more energy. Creatine supplementation, along with exercise, creates several beneficial cellular processes that enhance performance, build muscle mass (both short- and long-term), and improve recovery.

how to use it

Creatine differs from most starting supplements because of the loading phase. To load up your body with creatine stores, take 20 grams of creatine for 5-7 days. After this loading phase, you can only take 3-5 grams per day to maintain these elevated creatine levels.

Note: Creatine supplements come in both powder and pill forms.

Does creatine increase testosterone?

While creatine helps build muscle, provides more energy, and improves the body’s recovery process, it does not increase testosterone levels in the body. It’s a little unclear where this idea came from, but it’s safe to assume that using products like steroids and human growth hormone (HGH), both of which increase testosterone, leads people to believe that increased testosterone is associated with increased muscle mass .

Well, creatine increases the levels of some hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and growth hormone while participating in exercise, but it doesn’t increase a person’s resting hormone levels. Creatine does many things, but significantly increasing testosterone is not one of them. And at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if the supplement is helping you get where you want on your training journey.

back question:

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Supplements? Answers:

Creatine is an amino acid made in the liver and stored in the muscles of the body. It is important in the formation of adensine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, which are thought to be the primary energy carriers used by the body during physical activity. Several studies have found that creatine monohydrate supplementation can improve athletic performance by accelerating the rate of ATP resynthesis during and after high-intensity, short-term exercise. This leads to greater gains in muscle mass, strength and sprint performance during intense athletic training. The many scientific studies on creatine that have been published over the past five years have found no harmful effects or medical risks. Although there have been some isolated reports of negative side effects such as B. reduced sexual function, there does not appear to be any credible evidence questioning its safety. A concern of some researchers is that with continued supplementation, the body may decrease in its ability to produce creatine on its own. Some indirect evidence for this was found in a study with rats. The study examined the “creatine transport protein,” which is responsible for the uptake of creatine into cells and is a key to regulating cellular creatine homeostasis. Researchers found that chronic creatine supplementation in rats down-regulated their natural production of creatine transporter protein. Another issue concerns the other ingredients that accompany creatine in various supplements. You should carefully compare labels from competing brands to see if you’re comfortable with the other ingredients. Although no risks of creatine supplementation have been found in humans, we will not know about long-term effects for some time since the research is relatively new. A conservative approach is to only use creatine for limited periods of time before taking a significant break from it to allow the body to return to normal functioning. For an interesting summary of the research, see “Creatine Supplementation: Ergogenic Value and Medical Safety” by Richard Kreider, Ph.D. the University of Memphis. By William Collinge, MPH Ph.D. Note: To print this document, click this frame and then choose File –> Print Frame or Print. Do you have a question? Ask a Doctor at WebMD. Copyright ©1999 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. WebMD Terms of Service.

What is creatine? is it bad for you Creatine is the best sports performance supplement available. Despite its scientifically proven benefits, some people avoid creatine because they fear it will harm their health. Some claim it causes weight gain, cramps, and digestive, liver, or kidney problems. But hundreds of studies support its safety and effectiveness. This article provides an evidence-based overview of the safety and side effects of creatine.

Alleged Side Effects of Creatine Depending on who you ask, suggested side effects of creatine may include: Kidney damage

liver damage

Kidney stones

weight gain

gas

dehydration

muscle cramps

indigestion

compartment syndrome

Rhabdomyolysis Is creatine a steroid? Some people incorrectly claim that creatine is an anabolic steroid, that it is unsuitable for women or teenagers, or that it should only be used by professional athletes or bodybuilders (1). Despite this negative press, the International Society of Sports Nutrition considers creatine to be extremely safe and concludes that it is one of the most beneficial sports supplements available (2). One study looked at 69 health markers after participants had taken creatine supplements for 21 months. No side effects were detected (3). Creatine has also been used to treat various diseases and health conditions, including neuromuscular disorders, concussions, diabetes, and muscle wasting (2, 4, 5, 6). Is Creatine Safe to Take Every Day? Research has shown that it is safe to take creatine supplements on a daily basis, even for years. There is no evidence of significant adverse side effects in people consuming high doses of creatine (30 grams/day) for up to 5 years (2). In fact, research has shown positive health benefits in athletes who have been taking creatine supplements daily for long periods (2). Summary Although some people make false claims about creatine’s side effects and safety issues, none of these are supported by the research.

How does creatine work biologically? Creatine is found throughout the body, with 95% of it stored in your muscles (2). It is derived from meat and fish and can also be made naturally in your body from amino acids (2). Your diet and natural creatine levels do not typically maximize muscle stores of this compound. Average stores are around 120 mmol/kg for someone who weighs 70 kg, but creatine supplements can increase these stores to around 160 mmol/kg (2). During high-intensity exercise, the stored creatine helps your muscles produce more energy. This is the main reason creatine improves exercise performance (2). Once you fill up your muscle creatine stores, excess creatine is broken down into creatinine, which is metabolized by your liver and released into your urine (2). Summary Approximately 95% of the creatine in your body is stored in your muscles. There it provides more energy for high-intensity exercise.

Does it cause dehydration or cramps? Creatine alters your body’s stored water content, driving extra water into your muscle cells (1). This fact could be behind the theory that creatine causes dehydration. However, this shift in cellular water content is small, and no research supports the claims about dehydration. A 3-year study of college athletes found that those who took creatine had fewer instances of dehydration, muscle spasms, or muscle injuries than those who didn’t take it. They also missed fewer sessions due to illness or injury (7). One study looked at using creatine during exercise in hot weather, which can accelerate cramping and dehydration. During a 35-minute cycling session at 37°C (99°F), creatine had no adverse effects on cyclists compared to a placebo (8). Further investigation through blood tests also confirmed no difference in hydration or electrolyte levels, which play a key role in muscle spasms (8). The most conclusive research has been on people undergoing hemodialysis, a medical treatment that can cause muscle spasms. Researchers found that the group that took creatine experienced a 60% reduction in cramps (9). Based on current knowledge, creatine does not cause dehydration or cramps. If anything, it can protect against these conditions. Summary Contrary to popular belief, creatine does not increase the risk of cramps and dehydration. In fact, it may reduce your risk of these conditions.

Does Creatine Cause Weight Gain? Research has thoroughly documented that creatine supplements cause rapid body weight gain. In one study, a week of high-dose creatine supplementation (20 grams/day) increased participants’ body weight by about 2–6 pounds (1–3 kg) (10). Over the long term, studies show that creatine users can continue to gain more weight than non-creatine users. This weight gain is due to increased muscle growth — not increased body fat (11, 12). Increased muscle mass may also have benefits for older adults, those with obesity, and those with certain medical conditions (4, 13). Summary Creatine weight gain is not due to fat gain, it is due to increased water content in your muscles.

How does it affect your kidneys and liver? Creatine can slightly increase the level of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is commonly measured to diagnose kidney or liver disease (14). However, the fact that creatine increases creatinine levels doesn’t mean it harms your liver or kidneys (15). To date, no study of creatine use in healthy individuals has provided evidence of damage to these organs (2). A long-term study of college athletes found no side effects related to liver or kidney function. Other studies measuring biological markers in urine found no difference after taking creatine (16, 17, 18). One of the longest studies to date – lasting 4 years – also concluded that creatine has no negative side effects (19). Another popular study, often cited in the media, reported kidney disease in a male weightlifter who was taking creatine (20). But this single case study is not sufficient evidence. Numerous other factors, including additional dietary supplements, were also implicated (20). However, use caution when taking creatine supplements if you have a history of liver or kidney problems. A doctor can help you decide if taking creatine is right for you. Summary Current research suggests that creatine does not cause liver or kidney problems.

Does it cause indigestion? As with many supplements or medications, excessive doses can cause digestive problems. In a 2008 study, a 5-gram dose (taken twice a day) caused diarrhea in 29% of participants, which was not significantly different from placebo. However, a 10-gram dose (taken once a day) increased the risk of diarrhea by 56% ( 21Trusted Source ). Because of this, the recommended serving is around 3–5 grams. The 20-gram loading protocol is also broken up into 4 servings of 5 grams each over a day (2). Despite anecdotal reports, there is no evidence that creatine causes digestive problems when taken at recommended doses (22). It’s possible that additives, ingredients, or impurities created during the industrial production of creatine can cause problems (23). It is recommended to purchase a trustworthy, high quality product. Summary Creatine does not increase digestive problems when recommended dosages and loading guidelines are followed.

Does Creatine Get Acne? There is no evidence that creatine causes acne. Creatine can improve your ability to work out harder and longer, which leads to increased sweating. While sweating can lead to acne, creatine itself does not. Some research has shown that creatine can help your skin by improving skin wrinkles, aging, and skin damage when applied topically (4). Summary There is no current research to suggest that creatine directly causes acne. In fact, some studies show that it can help with wrinkles, aging, and skin damage.

How does creatine interact with other drugs? As with any diet or supplement, it’s best to discuss your creatine plans with a doctor or other healthcare professional before beginning. You may also want to avoid creatine supplements if you are taking medications that affect liver or kidney function. Creatine may interact with certain medications, so consult your doctor before beginning supplementation. Creatine can help improve blood sugar management. So if you’re taking medications that are known to affect blood sugar, you should discuss creatine use with a doctor ( 24Trusted Source ). You should also consult a doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a serious medical condition, such as heart disease or cancer. Summary Creatine can raise concerns if you’re taking certain types of medications, including medications that affect blood sugar.

Other Possible Side Effects Some people suspect that creatine can lead to compartment syndrome, a condition that occurs when excessive pressure builds up in an enclosed space – usually in the arm or leg muscles. Although one study found increased muscle pressure during 2 hours of heat exercise, this resulted primarily from heat and exercise-induced dehydration—not from creatine (25). The researchers also concluded that the pressure was short-lived and insignificant. Some claim that creatine supplements increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle breaks down and proteins leak into your bloodstream. However, this idea is not supported by any evidence. The myth originated because a marker in your blood called creatine kinase increases with creatine supplements (26). This slight increase is quite different from the high levels of creatine kinase associated with rhabdomyolysis. Interestingly, some experts even suggest that creatine may protect against this condition (26). Some people also confuse creatine with anabolic steroids, but that’s another myth. Creatine is an all-natural and legal substance found in your body and in foods — like meat — with no connection to steroids (15). Finally, there is a misconception that creatine is only for male athletes. However, no research suggests that it is unsuitable for women or older adults at recommended doses (15). Unlike most supplements, creatine has been given to children as a medical intervention for certain conditions, such as neuromuscular disorders or muscle wasting. Studies lasting up to 3 years have found no negative effects of creatine in children (15, 27). Summary Research has consistently confirmed creatine’s excellent safety profile. There is no evidence that it causes unwanted conditions such as rhabdomyolysis or compartment syndrome.