· What are the effects/actions of creatine?

Creatine, or methylguanidine-acetic acid, is a naturally occurring compound. In healthy individuals the total amount in the body is about 120g. Ninety five percent of creatine is found in the skeletal muscle. Sixty percent of creatine is in the form of phosphocreatine (PCr), which is considered to facilitate increased anaerobic energy (Wolinsky, 1997). The role of creatine in muscle energy metabolism and fatigue is to maintain adenosine triphosphate (ATP) availability, modulate metabolism, and buffer hydrogen ion accumulation during contraction (Greenhaff, 1996). In effect, this means that the student athlete would have more muscle energy and therefore be able to do more intense anaerobic workouts. Development of fatigue during short-duration exercises has been associated with the depletion of muscle PCr stores (Hultman et al., 1991).

· What are the adverse effects of using creatine supplements?

Reports related to creatine supplementation have indicated that one third of individuals trying creatine supplements are unable to absorb the extra amounts into their muscles and experience no improvement in muscle mass or athletic performance (Tarlach, 1998). Endurance athletes (marathoners) may find creatine supplementation counterproductive since the extra muscle mass creatine builds slows them down (Tarlach, 1998). Increased cramping and muscle strains may be associated with intracellular swelling (Williams and Branch, 1998). Endurance athletes may find creatine usage counterproductive since the increase mass and increase in weight may contribute to lowered endurance (Volek, 1997; Hultman, 1991). Recent studies reported that a 25 year old soccer player developed renal dysfunction while taking creatine. He had not exceeded recommended doses. His renal function returned to normal after he stopped taking creatine (Poortmans, Aucquier, and Renaut, 1997; Pritchard and Kalra, 1998).