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Creatine Monohydrate

Also known as: creatine, creatine mono

SStrong Evidence54 studies referenced

Common dosage

3-5g daily

Category

amino acid

Description

One of the most researched supplements in existence. Improves exercise performance, muscle recovery, and has emerging evidence for cognitive benefits under sleep deprivation.

Safety & interactions

Safe for long-term use. Stay hydrated. No loading phase needed — 5g daily reaches saturation in ~3 weeks.
Check all interactions →

Studies on Creatine Monohydrate (54)

1.

Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function: systematic review and meta-analysis

Avgerinos KI, et al. (2018) · Exp Gerontol · n=281

Meta-analysisPubMedDOI
2.

International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation

Kreider RB, et al. (2017) · J Int Soc Sports Nutr

ReviewPubMedDOI
3.

Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations

Cooper R, et al. (2012) · Mol Cell Biochem

ReviewPubMedDOI
4.

Impact of Powdered Tart Cherry Supplementation on Performance Recovery Following Repeated Sprint Exercise.

Hagele AM (2026) · Nutrients

5.

Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on myopathy in statin-treated patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kovacic S (2025) · Journal of nutritional science · n=389

6.

Evaluating the Impact of Urolithin A Supplementation on Running Performance, Recovery, and Mitochondrial Biomarkers in Highly Trained Male Distance Runners.

Whitfield J (2025) · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)

7.

Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial.

Lak M (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

8.

Effects of coenzyme Q10 analogs on oxidative stress, muscle, and metabolism after exercise: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Zhang Y (2026) · The Journal of international medical research · n=433

9.

Effects of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Recovery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tao B (2025) · Nutrients

10.

Resveratrol improves lipid profile and recovers heart function in postoperative CABG patients.

Ahmadi P (2025) · Molecular and cellular biochemistry · n=60

11.

Sport supplementation in competitive swimmers: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Domínguez R (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

12.

Recovery with vistula tart cherries following a marathon.

Squires E (2026) · European journal of nutrition

13.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a turmeric formulation on muscle soreness and function recovery in moderately active adults.

Schönenberger KA (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

14.

Acute creatine supplementation enhances technical performance in adolescent basketball players under cognitive-motor dual-task condition.

Wu J (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

15.

Can coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress in athletes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qu H (2025) · Complementary therapies in clinical practice

16.

Effect of Timing of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscle Recovery after Resistance Training in Healthy Males.

Meng K (2025) · American journal of men's health

17.

The Effects of Vitamin K2 on Recovery from Muscle-Damaging Resistance Exercise in Young and Older Adults: The TAKEOVER Randomized Controlled Trial.

Lithgow H (2026) · Medicine and science in sports and exercise

18.

Short-term creatine supplementation enhances strength, reduces fatigue, and accelerates recovery in resistance-trained athletes: a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial.

Salem A (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

19.

Betaine Supplementation Improves 60 km Cycling Time Trial Performance and One-Carbon Metabolism in Cyclists During Recovery.

Nieman DC (2025) · Nutrients

20.

Metabolic Signature of Arsenic Exposure and Metabolism: The Folic Acid and Creatine Trial.

Li W (2025) · Environmental science & technology

21.

Effect of creatine monohydrate on motor function in children with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Woodcock IR (2025) · Pharmacotherapy

22.

A multi-metabolite signature robustly predicts long-term mortality in the PREDIMED trial and several US cohorts.

Fernández-Duval G (2025) · Metabolism: clinical and experimental

23.

Impact of creatine supplementation on inflammation: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo trials.

de Camargo KMR (2026) · Frontiers in immunology

24.

Effects of Supplementation with Milk Proteins on Body Composition and Anthropometric Parameters: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis.

Mohammadi S (2025) · Nutrients

25.

The Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Upper- and Lower-Body Strength and Power: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kazeminasab F (2025) · Nutrients · n=1,937

26.

Effects of Pork Protein Ingestion Prior to and Following Performing the Army Combat Fitness Test on Markers of Catabolism, Inflammation, and Recovery.

Gonzalez DE (2025) · Nutrients · n=3

27.

D-BHB supplementation before moderate-intensity exercise suppresses lipolysis and selectively blunts exercise-induced long-chain acylcarnitine increase in pilot study of patients with long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders.

Gregor AN (2025) · Molecular genetics and metabolism

28.

Creatine plus β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate supplementation is associated with preserved glutathione redox-balance and redox-function associations in older adults: a secondary analysis of a randomized crossover trial.

Ramos-Hernández R (2026) · Biogerontology

29.

Creatine supplementation and resistance training: a comparison between novice and experienced lifters - a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

Ashtary-Larky D (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

30.

Transdiagnostic reduction in cortical choline-containing compounds in anxiety disorders: a 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy meta-analysis.

Maddock RJ (2025) · Molecular psychiatry

31.

The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Recovery from Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Considering Sex and Age Differences.

Yamaguchi S (2025) · Nutrients

32.

Effect of Taurine Combined With Creatine on Repeated Sprinting Ability After Exhaustive Exercise Under Hot and Humid Conditions.

Yu P (2025) · Sports health

33.

Short-Term Effects of Broccoli-Derived Glucoraphanin on Recovery from Eccentric Muscle Damage: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Study.

Cesanelli L (2026) · Nutrients

34.

Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Sleep Metrics, Physical Performance, Cognitive Function, and Recovery in Physically Active Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial.

Ben Maaoui K (2025) · Nutrients

35.

Muscle creatine levels and sprint performance in young adult vegans and vegetarians after 7 days of creatine monohydrate supplementation.

Bonne TC (2025) · Physiological reports

36.

Effects of a Blend of Trisodium Citrate, Creatine Monohydrate, Leucine, and Blueberry Extract on Training-Induced Changes in Leg Extension Strength, Endurance, and Muscle Size.

Roberts TD (2025) · Journal of dietary supplements

37.

The Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Lean Body Mass with and Without Resistance Training.

Desai I (2025) · Nutrients

38.

Effects of Combined Versus Single Supplementation of Creatine, Beta-Alanine, and L-Citrulline During Short Sprint Interval Training on Basketball Players' Performance: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Li M (2025) · International journal of sports physiology and performance

39.

Effectiveness of a soccer injury prevention program based on creatine supplementation and internal load monitoring: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Soler Hurtado M (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

40.

Effects of creatine supplementation on muscle strength gains-a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Zhang H (2025) · PeerJ

41.

Lowering plasma S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) in healthy adults with elevated SAH and normal homocysteine using nutritional supplementation.

Pohl F (2025) · Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD

42.

Serum C-Terminal Agrin Fragment With Acute and Long-Term Exercise and Angiotensin II Type I Receptor Blockade.

Soendenbroe C (2025) · Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle

43.

Selective Influence of Hemp Fiber Ingestion on Post-Exercise Gut Permeability: A Metabolomics-Based Analysis.

Nieman DC (2025) · Nutrients

44.

The Effect of Protein Supplementation and Playing Time on Recovery Kinetics During a Congested Basketball Schedule.

Pantazis D (2024) · Nutrients

45.

Beetroot juice or creatine: which yields greater short-term benefits for resistance training capacity, performance and key physiological responses?

Ammar A (2026) · International journal of food sciences and nutrition

46.

Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Naeini EK (2025) · BMC nephrology

47.

The Effects of 8-Week Creatine Hydrochloride and Creatine Ethyl Ester Supplementation on Cognition, Clinical Outcomes, and Brain Creatine Levels in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women (CONCRET-MENOPA): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Korovljev D (2026) · Journal of the American Nutrition Association

48.

Impact of Mango Puree Supplementation on Inflammatory, Muscle Damage, and Selected T-Cell Biomarkers in Elite Beach Volleyball Players During Regular Training.

Parklak W (2026) · Nutrients

49.

Creatine supplementation for treating symptoms of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eckert I (2025) · The British journal of nutrition · n=1,093

50.

Diet-Controlled Whey Protein Supplementation: Mitigating Serum Creatine Kinase Levels After Continuous Resistance Exercise.

Kim CB (2026) · Journal of the American Nutrition Association

51.

Evaluation of safe utilization of L-threonine for supplementation in healthy adults: a randomized double blind controlled trial.

Matsumoto H (2025) · Amino acids

52.

The effects of probiotic supplementation on body composition, recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage, and exercise performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Shirkoohi NM (2025) · Physiological reports

53.

Effect of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Macro- and Microvascular Endothelial Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Clarke HE (2024) · Nutrients

54.

Advantages of different dietary supplements for elite combat sports athletes: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Luo H (2025) · Scientific reports

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