What is Creatine?

Creatine is essentially an organic acid occurring naturally in vertebrates, specifically produced in the liver by three amino acids namely arginine, methionine and glycine. A substantial amount of the Creatine produced by the body is stored in the muscle where it offers crucial support to the skeleton. Once Creatine has been used (mainly in the skeletal muscle), it undergoes conversion into creatinine which is a waste product that is then excreted out of the body through urine. Recent research has shown that Creatine is an essential muscle building substance and this has raised its popularity especially among athletes who use it specifically as a muscle building supplement with clinical studies indicating that it can increase lean muscle mass and strength.

When we consume meat for instance, we take in some levels of Creatine protein because it already exists in the meat in some percentage. Progress in research over the years led to Creatine supplements, which are now promoted as one of the best muscle building supplements, thought to contribute to significant muscle strength as well as substantial gain in lean muscle mass. Recently a new form of Creatine, the Pro-Creatine ethyl-esther technology (ce2) came to the market. The ce2 is said to penetrate the muscle cells approximately 39 times more than the rate at which Creatine monohydrate does penetrate.

Why is Creatine so important?

Creatine monohydrate is the main Creatine supplement that has undoubtedly emerged as a popular muscle-building supplement in the market. The importance of taking Creatine is largely based on its effectiveness in supporting the skeletal muscle, which is an important part in our bodies. This means that by consuming Creatine, one is able to enhance muscle strength as well as the lean muscle mass, which is equally important for the physical well-being of the body. It is most important for athletes and other sports individuals because they all need to maintain not only healthy muscles but also muscles that are strong in addition to the lean muscle. Creatine is also helpful in protein synthesis that enhances the growth and development of muscles. It has also been found that sufficient amounts of Creatine in the body contribute to reduction of fatigue. Creatine protein in particular does a good job in maintaining energy levels in the early stages of a workout.

How does Creatine work?

When Creatine gets into the muscle tissues, it is converted into phosphocreatine, a strong metabolite that produces ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) molecules, which are essential for supplying energy to the muscles especially when they are engaged in highly intensive workout and other body activities. When a muscle contracts, ATP loses the phosphate molecule in order to create energy. As soon as ATP loses the phosphate molecule, it converts to ADP (Adenosine Di Phosphate) which must undergo conversion back to ATP so that more energy can be produced.

The body will therefore need sufficient amounts of Creatine so that the production of ATP molecules is fast enough to ensure enough energy is available for the contraction of muscles. This way, Creatine becomes an important source of energy particularly when one is engaged in intense muscle building activities. It is the instantaneous ability of Creatine to produce energy that has made it so popular as a muscle-building supplement especially for athletes and weight lifters. This is because they need instantaneous boosting of energy. Creatine protein is also essential in restoring the levels of ATP.

Where does it come from?

Creatine comes mainly from vertebrates where it is produced naturally in the liver and kidneys. It is also found in meat and other animal products like fish. By formation, it is an amino acid occurring naturally in the liver and kidneys. Other foods as well are also rich sources of Creatine where it exists in certain concentrates. Lean meat for example is said to have a significant amount of Creatine, approximately 5 grams of Creatine in 2.2 lbs of steak. However, a good percentage of Creatine properties are lost when this meat goes through the normal process of cooking and storage.

Where is it found in Nature?

In nature, Creatine is actually found in most of the foods that we eat. Notable among the natural sources include fish and meats like beef, salmon, tuna and herring, which are all readily available in nature. Once you eat these foods and they go through the body’s digestive process, the Creatine in the food is then released directly into the blood stream from where it is transported to the skeletal muscle where it gets absorbed. This is why it is always advisable to consult with your doctor if you are using large amounts of these natural sources so that the limit of your body’s level of Creatine is not exceeded. These simple natural sources of Creatine play a vital role in giving rise to the now popular Creatine substances like Creatine protein and even the new ce2.

How does it affect muscles?

Though the major role of Creatine remains that of energy production, it has been found to stimulate muscle growth in different forms. Due to the additional energy that you get from Creatine, you will definitely get to perform more workouts/work, which then increases protein synthesis. When more Creatine phosphate is stored in the muscles, it enables the muscle cells to hold more water to the extent that they become extremely hydrated(voluminized), a condition which leads to enhanced protein and glycogen synthesis plus a limited breakdown of protein.

The overall result is that enhanced protein synthesis combined with training/workout will eventually stimulate muscle growth. Scientific research has also shown that Creatine supplements help in quick repairing of muscle tears. Evidently, the effect is positive and to the advantage of the body’s muscles which get a boost for growth and development through the simple working of Creatine once we use the right quality in the right amounts. With the new ce2, this positive effect is bound to be even more impacting.

What happens if I do not take Creatine?

There is no offence if you do not take Creatine but certainly, your muscles may not be as well built as that of a person taking Creatine. Also, you should not be afraid if you use Creatine for some time and come to a point where you stop using it. The only thing likely to happen is that you may lose some bit of water because Creatine keeps the muscles water levels high. Other than this, nothing major has been associated with stopping to take Creatine or even not taking it. However, of course it is highly encouraged that you take it especially if your workout is more frequent and intensive. It is widely accepted as an appropriate bodybuilding supplement.

Creatine Ingredients

Since there are many types of Creatine supplements in the market; ingredients will vary depending on the Creatine formulation. Creatine monohydrate is the most popular type of Creatine supplement but there are others that continue to be introduced in the market, such as Creatine Ester Ethyl or CEE, Ce2 Pro Creatine and Creatine Citrate. We can now look at the specific ingredients in some of the Creatine formulations:

Creatine monohydrate is simply Creatine monohydrate with nothing else added; it is 100 percent Creatine monohydrate. Its chemical formula is C4H9N3O2 – H2O. Creatine Ester Ethyl (CEE) is basically Creatine monohydrate with an attached ester to improve the absorption. Ce2 Pro Creatine contains Corn Syrup, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Kollicoat, magnesium Stearate, Dicalcium Phosphate and Zein as some of the ingredients. Creatine citrate contains citric acid to which the Creatine molecule is bonded. It is understood that the essence of citric acid is to play a role in provision of aerobic energy in the muscle tissue even though this claim is yet to be proven scientifically.

More formulations of Creatine continue to greet the body building supplement market, all promising better performance. Examples of these formulations include the new and popular Creatine-akg, Creatine malate, Magnesium Creatine, Creatine tartrate, Creatine glutamine taurine, Creatine HMB, Effervescent Creatine, Liquid Creatine, Creatine gum, Creatine HCL and Time released Creatine. Despite the numerous Creatine formulations, the basic composition remains to be the Creatine component, which is the most important element in any Creatine supplement. The different formulations are normally aimed at improving various aspects of Creatine like absorption and intake rate.

Who discovered it?

Michael Eugène Chevreul, a French chemist discovered Creatine in 1832 as a component of the skeletal muscle and later decided to name it Creatine, a word derived from Kreas- the Greek word for flesh. Fifteen years later (around 1847), Chevreul found out that Creatine actually played an important role in muscle operation because he realized that flesh from foxes killed by hunting(wild) did contain more Creatine than flesh from ordinary foxes.

What followed this discovery was a series of scientific researches and studies particularly focusing on the properties of Creatine as well as its specific roles in the muscles. This led to the present day Creatine supplement, which has taken its place as one of the best body building supplements. Huge amounts of Creatine have been used by professional athletes and sports personalities who regard it as perhaps the most favorite of all body building supplement available in the market. Recent statistics show that several tones of Creatine are sold yearly in the United States and the numbers are always increasing. The trends across the world are not different because Creatine is used all over the world.