Creatine has health benefits

Question

Creatine is a natural substance your body makes, mostly stored in your muscles. It helps your muscles produce quick energy, which is why athletes and weightlifters often use it as a supplement. But Creatine isn't just for the gym, it actually has a range of health benefits.

Answer 1

The claim that "Creatine has health benefits" is true. Through the research I did on these claims, I learned about how it is the most known for helping weightlifters and athletes with energy before a workout and with recovery after the workout. In addition to this, I learned about how there are some newer studies saying there are benefits outside of just the gym. According to the Cleveland Clinic, creatine helps with brain health, improvement with certain neurological problems, and aid in recovery from an injury. These claims are supported by other reliable sources, specifically the National Institute of Health, Mayo Clinic, and Harvard Health Publishing. The National Institute of Health compiled their information on creatine in their "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets" section of their website, which collects information "from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and other federal government sources." The Mayo Clinic article gets its info from peer-reviewed studies. Although the Harvard article did not share the primary source of its information, Harvard is considered a reliable source and when cross-referenced with the other sources in this fact check, the information is consistent. 

Sources: 

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/what-is-creatine-potential-benefits-and-risks-of-this-popular-supplement

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20347591

Comments

This is a great example of a well organized and thorough fact check. Not only is there substantial research done on the topic but the sources are very trustworthy. Using institutions like Harvard Health and Mayo Clinic as sources of information can make a fact check very reliable and informative. Overall, I enjoyed reading this fact check and look forward to learning more about the topic as a creatine user.

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You did a really good job! you made claim and followed through with examples such as brain improvement and recovery from injuries and then putting in your sources. I also like that you have three different sources

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Great analysis! The setup for your argument and research really pulled your statement together. Not only did you do a good job on using credible and reliable sources, but you hit it home with using lots of detail within those sources. It is very obvious that you took your time to research and gather the facts, before jumping to conclusions, and that makes your claim very strong.

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I agree, Creatine has widely recognized health benefits, making it a reliable supplement supported by credible evidence. It is best known for helping athletes and weightlifters by providing energy during workouts and aiding recovery afterward. Beyond its fitness-related uses, emerging research highlights its potential benefits for brain health, including improvements in certain neurological conditions and aiding recovery from injuries. Reliable sources like the Cleveland Clinic, National Institute of Health, Mayo Clinic, and Harvard Health Publishing confirm these claims. The Cleveland Clinic discusses creatine's role in energy supply and its effects on brain health, while the National Institute of Health includes creatine in its "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets," emphasizing its research-backed benefits. The Mayo Clinic notes creatine's impact on muscle mass, performance, and its possible neurological advantages. Harvard Health Publishing reinforces these points by acknowledging its role in rapid energy production, muscle recovery, and cognitive benefits, particularly for older adults. These sources collectively validate the claim, making creatine a well-supported choice for both athletic and broader health applications.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17674-creatine

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20347591

https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/what-is-creatine-potential-benefits-and-risks-of-this-popular-supplement

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You were very thorough with your research on the effects of creatine on the body, The multiple sources including the Harvard health article really helps prove your point.

Answer 2

Creatine is a heavy studied supplement in the fitness community that has been reported to have factual benefits that contribute to mental and physical benefits and overall health. The following source below has the research on creatine and its many beneficial evidence on what it can contribute for people that take it.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17674-creatine

Comments

Although your claim is true, the site by itself is not the best reference. The site you included obtains it’s information from other sources, which are more trustworthy documents to research.

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I agree, the site isn't strictly informative, where it doesn't explicitly cite the source/studies of their information. Also, they advertise their services within the article.

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Great job referencing the Cleveland Clinic article, which does provide a solid foundation for understanding creatine's effects on health. I’d like to expand on the point about creatine’s benefits beyond fitness. While it’s true that creatine supplementation has been well-researched in the context of physical performance, the claim about its overall health benefits might be a bit of an overstatement, especially when applied to general populations.

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While your point about creatine’s benefits is valid and very well supported in the fitness world, the source you cited may not be the most reliable. It would be stronger to directly cite the original research studies as those primary sources offer more credibility.

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I agree with your points that creatine does have good health benefits and well supported, but the sources you cited may not be as reliable and I would strongly recommend you use different sources that are more trusted or cite from articles from licensed professionals

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While Creatine does supply more energy to your muscles this does not technically build strength like your source states. https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/what-is-creatine-potential-benefits-and-risks-of-this-popular-supplement states specifically that it does not build muscle. The energy can help you throughout your workout but it does not directly link to higher muscle mass.

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I think you were on the right track using the Cleveland Clinic article, but I do agree with the other comments that it would be more beneficial to dive deeper into the original studies mentioned like the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Health Publishing. Creatine does seem to have some positive effects that are beyond just muscle growth but I'm curious if it is overall just better for people that are actively training and exercising regularly and how it would affect someone who isn't as active.

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You made a great point about creatine being well-studied and helpful for both physical and mental health. The source you shared from the Cleveland Clinic supports this, saying that creatine can improve strength, muscle growth, and even brain function. It’s especially useful for people doing high-intensity workouts or looking to boost their energy levels. Your comment does a good job showing that creatine isn’t just for athletes it can support overall health too.

Answer 3

The claims you make here are generally true, yet you leave out a few key details that could discourage one from using creatine in their day to day life. You state that creatine is not just for the gym and has a range of health benefits, although in the source you provide it only says non gym use only affects short term memory and reasoning in people over 60, and even then states this is not confirmed and studies are still being run on the matter. Aside from that, your source says nothing about health benefits outside of the gym.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17674-creatine

Comments

This is a good fact check because you directly call out the mismatch between the claim and the actual source. The original post overstates the health benefits of creatine outside the gym, while the source only mentions unconfirmed cognitive effects in older adults. You keep the focus tight and back it up with specific evidence.

Answer 4

The claim that creatine consumption has health benefits is accurate. The original Cleveland clinic site seems to have many resources one of them being a government document, the National Library of Medicine. In this document, they state they performed randomized clinical trials on individuals to see the effects of creatine on a healthy body. Their conclusions coincide with the claims of the article that creatine may improve anaerobic exercise, energy supply, and increase brains levels.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6093191/

Comments

You used a good source that should be trustworthy and non-biased. You also built up the credibility of the source that you gave by looking into the Cleveland clinic site. But what do you mean by "brain levels"? Are you talking about brain activity?

Answer 5

Creatine does have a ton of health benefits, but many times people don't understand fully what they are taking and what they need to do to keep it beneficial. You need to drink a lot of water being on creatine for it to even work, and not drinking enough water while taking it can actually lead to kidney damage. The study by the National Library of Medicine that is linked below talks about these risks in depth. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10054094/

Comments

I agree that it is important to follow the proper procedures of drinking enough water to see the desired results. I appreciate that you added this to your reply.

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I appreciate what you added to this. I agree that it is important to drink a significant amount of water to see the benefits of creatine. Here is another source that also shows the benefits of creatine: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/creatine-beneficial-for-young-healthy-weightlifters

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I agree with your take on this statement, as people are influenced to take a supplement like creatine without knowing the risk. It is important that people know what they are taking in proper procedures to get the results they want

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Great point on how other confounds affect the way creatine aids in overall health. This is a great extension on the initial argument, however, it is not truly a fact check as you did not address the claims in the original post. your source was very informative and reliable.

Answer 6

Creatine boosts health by primarily enhancing the body's energy system during workouts. It increases the availability of phosphocreatine in muscles, allowing to help regenerate adenosine triphosphate or (ATP), the main energy currency of cells, which improves strength and muscle mass.

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Creatine-Consumer/

Answer 7

Yes! While creatine has been known for helping muscle performance and making sure you look ripped in the gym. There is a lot of research that supports this claim. As the Cleveland Clinic reports that creatine can help with mental fatigue, neurological diseases, and other issues; there are more clinical trials that must be done. In a 2021 study in Nutrients  tells us that, "Creatine supplementation has demonstrated beneficial effects on neurological health, rehabilitation after brain injury, and even in mood regulation."

Comments

URL for your source?

Answer 8

There is some evidence that creatine has one significant health benefit outside of muscle gain: cognitive function. The second article that I linked discusses a study involving only 492 people, but the results were that it's very likely that creatine helps with cognitive health.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20347591

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39070254/

Answer 9

While yes, creatine does have health benefits, some people may find that creatine increases some certain people with underlying kidney problems and can cause liver or kidney dysfunctions. 

Digestive issues are also another potential problem; nausea, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort have all been reported by some individuals taking creatine. 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/creatine-pros-and-cons

From a personal experience, I have been taking creatine consistently for around 3 months. My experience has been that while I feel an increase in muscle mass, I can feel gained strength and have tested myself past my limits and hit PR's, that yes, creatine is amazing.  But, I feel and look bloated all the time, can feel nauseous, and have experienced stomach discomfort. While these side effects aren't terrible enough for me to stop, it's good to keep this in mind when starting off. 

Answer 10

Your claim that the use of "Creatine has health benefits" is true. Growing up as a pretty active person, I was always told by my peers that taking creatine was bad for you. After doing my own research, I’ve learned that this supplement actually has many benefits. According to the article The Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, current evidence shows that creatine may "confer beneficial effects on cognitive function in adults," especially in areas like memory, attention, reaction time, and processing speed. Other sources have also pointed out its role in improving strength and enhancing high-intensity exercise performance. For example, Texas A&M explains that creatine helps regenerate ATP during intense muscle contractions, which supports better training output and endurance.

A lot of the misconceptions seem to stem from confusion. I used to think creatine and pre-workout were the same thing, but they’re not. Creatine provides long-term positive effects, while pre-workout is basically just a high dose of caffeine that can affect many things from the gastrointestinal tract as well as the heart. Once I learned the difference, I realized creatine was a much safer supplement to take.

On top of that, there’s growing evidence of creatine’s anti-aging and neuroprotective effects. For example, the review Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations published in MDPI found that creatine can help reduce age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), preserving muscle mass and strength in older adults. The evidence shows creatine isn’t bad for you; if anything, it can do a lot of surprising and positive things for your body in the long run.


Frontiers | The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
 

Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations—A Narrative Review

Expert: Creatine’s Impact Goes Far Beyond The Weight Room – Texas A&M Stories