Creatine is a protein molecule that is stored in muscle. For activities lasting 10 seconds or less, ATP is the energy source for the muscle. It has been shown that muscular fatigue is related to phosphocreatine depletion in muscle, and that creatine supplementation can enhance the levels of both creatine and phosphocreatine in skeletal muscle. Creatine is available in powder form or capsules as well as in bars, gels, candy and gum.
Creatine is an energy-producing substance naturally found in the body.
Research studies have indicated that oral ingestion of the supplement creatine monohydrate has a beneficial effect on short-duration, repetitive bursts of intense exercise such as that experienced in rowing, running, cycling, swimming and resistance training. Scientific studies have also shown that short-term creatine supplementation is medically safe in healthy people. Two issues that have yet to be sufficiently addressed are the medical safety of consuming creatine supplementation over a long period of time and the effects of creatine on performance at lower intensity levels. Muscle creatine is used to regenerate the energy source in the muscle for short burst activities generally lasting less then 10 seconds. Knowing that increasing muscle creatine can increase the available energy for short bursts of intense activity, it would be reasonable to assume and research has shown that it benefits athletes in weightlifting, gymnastics, football, hockey, field events and sprinting.