Biology & Society

Should Creatine Supplements Be Regulated?

ATP is the chemical compound that gives muscles the energy to contract, but the amount of ATP in most muscle cells is only enough for a few seconds of activity. Muscle cells have a chemical trick, however, that enables them to sustain maximum effort for several more seconds. They attach phosphate groups to a compound called creatine. As they contract, the cells quickly transfer phosphate from creatine to ADP, producing enough ATP to keep working. The creatine phosphate in skeletal muscles effectively doubles or triples the amount of ATP available for intense exercise.

If a little creatine is good, then more creatine would be even better, right? That's what many athletes think and that's why they take creatine supplements. Some studies do suggest that creatine may increase the body's capacity for strong, short-term muscle contractions. As a reason to regulate the use of creatine, however, critics point to potentially serious side effects—such as liver and kidney damage—when creatine is overused.

Because creatine occurs naturally in the body and in foods, testing for creatine use is nearly impossible; so, creatine is not banned in major sports leagues. However, due to a lack of long-term studies, the NCAA prohibits coaches from giving creatine to college athletes. Some schools argue that creatine should be banned altogether.

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