Creatine Might Not Be the Muscle Miracle We Thought It Was

A common workout supplement might be less useful than believed. In research out this month, scientists found that creatine failed to help people build significantly more muscle than normal while training. Researchers at the University of New South Wales led the study, published last week in the journal Nutrients. The clinical trial compared people who underwent resistance training while taking or not taking a typical daily dose of creatine, finding no significant difference in added lean body mass by the end; everyone gained mass while training—the scientists just didn’t see more mass in the creatine group as they expected. The findings could mean that larger regular doses of the supplement are needed to see muscle-building benefits, the researchers say. Creatine is naturally produced by the body and can be found in certain foods such as seafood and red meat. It helps supply energy to the muscles, particularly during intense bursts of activity like lifting weights. Some research has ... Read full article.