Dr. Andres Sosa. Photo courtesy of Family Medical Practice

by Dr. Andres Sosa*

Some athletes take large doses of nutritional supplements in an effort to get an edge over their opponents. Creatine is one of the most popular sports supplements.

Many athletes, including some children and adolescents, take creatine supplements because they think it will increase strength and improve sports performance. There is currently no conclusive evidence that creatine supplements improve performance for sports activities.

There is also not enough research on the long-term health effects of taking creatine supplements, especially in adolescents and children who are still growing. Because of these unknown risks, children, adolescents and pregnant women should not take creatine supplements.

What is Creatine?

Creatine is a natural source of energy for muscle contraction. The body produces creatine in the liver, kidneys and pancreas. People can also get creatine by eating meat or fish and, therefore, Vegetarians may have lower amounts of creatine in their bodies.

Most of the creatine in the body is stored in skeletal muscle and used during physical activity. The rest is used in the heart, brain and other tissues.

Taking creatine supplements may increase the amount of creatine in the muscles. Muscles may be able to generate more energy or generate energy at a faster rate. Some people think that taking creatine supplements along with training will improve performance by providing quick bursts of intense energy for activities such as sprinting and weightlifting.

Vegetarians and other individuals with lower amounts of natural creatine in their bodies may see more of a difference by taking creatine supplements compared with other people. There may be a saturation point, however, that limits how much creatine muscles can store.

Easy to get

Creatine supplements come in a wide variety of brand names and products. The supplements are available over-the-counter at vitamin drug, and grocery stores, as well as online.

Use of creatine supplements is widespread and is expected to rise. Professional sports associations, as well as the International Olympic Committee, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) do not prohibit creatine supplements.

Most of the people who use creatine supplements are:

• Male
• Athletes in power sports, such as football, wrestling, hockey and bodybuilding
• Athletes at all levels of performance, from professional to amateur, college, high school and middle school.

For several years, research studies have shown that adolescents concerned with both athletics and appearance are taking performance-enhancing supplements. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics of middle-school and high-school students ages 10 to 18 years found creatine use in all grades 6 through 12. About 5.6 per cent of the study participants and 44% of high-school senior athletes admitted taking creatine.

Supplements are not always safe

It is important to remember that, although creatine is a "natural" product, it is not always safe to take creatine supplements. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate nutritional supplements. This means that the creatine products available in stores may vary in amount and quality, and there is no guarantee of safety or purity.

According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, many young athletes who take creatine supplements rely on the advice of friends, not doctors. Some creatine users do not know how much creatine to take and may take more than they should.

Side effects

Creatine causes muscles to retain more water. People who take creatine supplements may gain weight because of water retention in the body's muscles. Other side effects of long-term use of creatine supplements include muscle cramps, dehydration, diaorrhea, nausea and seizures.

It may be dangerous to take creatine supplements while undergoing dehydration (for example, for wrestling competition) or when trying to lose weight.

Unknown health risks

Doctors do not know the effects of creatine supplements on important organ systems, such as the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and reproductive organs, or the effects of combining creatine supplements with over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs vitamins, and the newly popular energy drinks.

Medical researchers are currently studying the safety and effectiveness of creatine supplements. They also are studying whether creatine supplements may help in the treatment of diseases that cause muscles to shrink and fail, such as heart failure/disease, muscular/neuromuscular diseases and strokes.

Although research is underway, doctors do not know the long-term health effects of taking creatine supplements, especially in children who are still growing. Because of these unknown risks, children and adolescents younger than 18 years and pregnant or nursing women should never take creatine supplements. People with kidney problems also should never take creatine supplements.

No matter what your age or health condition, always see your doctor for advice before taking creatine supplements. Family Medical Practice

*Dr. Andres Sosa is an orthopedic surgeon trained in Italy specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal trauma (fractures, dislocations, wounds), degenerative joint diseases (osteoarthritis, spine disc herniation) and sport lesions (sprains, joint instability, tendon ruptures) with a particular and deep interest in upper limb, spine and knee. With two European masters degrees and multiple courses overseas, Dr Sosa is able to perform open surgery, internal fixation, shoulder/knee arthroscopy, external fixation and joint replacement as well as non-surgical pain management therapies.

For more advice on any medical topics, visit Family Medical Practice Hanoi at: 298 I Kim Mã Street, Ba Đình District. Tel: (024) 3843 0748. E: hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com.

FMP’s downtown Hồ Chí Minh location is at Diamond Plaza, 34 Lê Duẩn, District 1; 95 Thảo Điền Street, District 2. Tel: (028) 38227848. E: hcmc@vietnammedicalpractice.com.

FMP Đà Nẵng is located at 96-98 Nguyễn Văn Linh Street, Hải Châu District, Đà Nẵng. Tel: (0236) 3582 699. E: danang@vietnammedicalpractice.com.