Many nutritional supplements, and the accompanying health or performance claims, come and go without much excitement. But none has created the amount of interest and debate as creatine. Proponents advocate creatine as a safe and effective supplement to enhance physical performance.
Opponents contend that it is harmful.
Rumor and conjecture fuel the controversy. The enthusiasm surrounding creatine is bolstered by professional athletes who provide testimonials that their success is supported by this small protein. The scientific basis for creatine supplementation is linked to this protein's role as an immediate source of energy for working muscles. A modified form of creatine, phosphocreatine, is the key player in the transformation of energy from food into the common chemical form of energy that all cells use. In contrast to other chemical forms of energy in cells, phosphocreatine levels can be stockpiled, thus increasing the amount of energy available to working cells in muscles and other tissues in the body.