Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33557850›Full record

ReviewJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2021

Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Jose Antonio, Darren G Candow, Scott C Forbes, Bruno Gualano, Andrew R Jagim, Richard B Kreider, Eric S Rawson, Abbie E Smith-Ryan, Trisha A VanDusseldorp, Darryn S Willoughby and 1 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05562232 (The Effect of Creatine Monohydrate on Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms - a Pilot Study Protocol), which is not on this map. Cited by 107 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
107citing papers in PubMed, 12 pooled it
14.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05562232 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Creatine Monohydrate on Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms - a Pilot Study Protocol

TypeinterventionalSponsorPsychiatric Research Unit, Region Zealand, DenmarkRan2023 to 2024Enrolled45ConditionsMild Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, BrainArmsCreatine Monohydrate
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

107 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 201 citations in OpenAlex.

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47 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 10 institutions in 5 countries.

Jose AntonioDepartment of Health and Human Performance, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida, USA. ja839@nova.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8930-1058
Darren G CandowFaculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Canada.
Scott C ForbesDepartment of Physical Education, Faculty of Education, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, Canada.
Bruno GualanoApplied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group; School of Medicine, FMUSP, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Andrew R JagimSports Medicine Department, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, WI, USA.
Richard B KreiderExercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Human Clinical Research Facility, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA.
Eric S RawsonDepartment of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA.
Abbie E Smith-RyanDepartment of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Trisha A VanDusseldorpDepartment of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA.
Darryn S WilloughbySchool of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX, USA.
Tim N ZiegenfussThe Center for Applied Health Sciences, Canfield, Ohio, USA.
Brandon University · CACenter for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences · RSKennesaw State University · USMayo Clinic Health System · USNutrition Sciences (Belgium) · BESoutheastern University · USUniversidade de São Paulo · BRUniversity of Mary Hardin–Baylor · USUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · USUniversity of Regina · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Supplementing with creatine is very popular amongst athletes and exercising individuals for improving muscle mass, performance and recovery. Accumulating evidence also suggests that creatine supplementation produces a variety of beneficial effects in older and patient populations. Furthermore, evidence-based research shows that creatine supplementation is relatively well tolerated, especially at recommended dosages (i.e. 3-5 g/day or 0.1 g/kg of body mass/day). Although there are over 500 peer-refereed publications involving creatine supplementation, it is somewhat surprising that questions regarding the efficacy and safety of creatine still remain. These include, but are not limited to: 1. Does creatine lead to water retention? 2. Is creatine an anabolic steroid? 3. Does creatine cause kidney damage/renal dysfunction? 4. Does creatine cause hair loss / baldness? 5. Does creatine lead to dehydration and muscle cramping? 6. Is creatine harmful for children and adolescents? 7. Does creatine increase fat mass? 8. Is a creatine 'loading-phase' required? 9. Is creatine beneficial for older adults? 10. Is creatine only useful for resistance / power type activities? 11. Is creatine only effective for males? 12. Are other forms of creatine similar or superior to monohydrate and is creatine stable in solutions/beverages? To answer these questions, an internationally renowned team of research experts was formed to perform an evidence-based scientific evaluation of the literature regarding creatine supplementation.

Indexed as

AdiposityAdolescentAdultAlopeciaBody WaterChildCreatineDehydrationDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansKidneyKidney DiseasesMaleMuscle CrampMuscle, SkeletalCreatineTestosteroneTestosterone CongenersAdverse EffectsAnecdotalResearchSafetySocial Media

Identifiers

PMID33557850
PMCPMC7871530
OpenAlexW3127319292

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.