Busting Creatine Myths: Separating Fact From Fiction

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0:00 What creatine helps with
2:36 Creatine Source
4:04 The Dose
5:05 Front Loading
6:08 The Timing
8:06 Creatine and Health
11:01 Time Off?
12:15 Water Weight
13:20 Stomach Issues
14:20 Outro

[@OniBarix]

Creatine ruined my life. I started taking it daily for that "better performance" but instead it just helped me get jacked and didn't increase the performance I was looking for at all!

[@michaelhenderson3241]

So in what way did it ruin your life?

[@user-mr9yy3yf9q]

Buffoon, unless this was a joke.

[@noobsaibot1234]

Got jacked as a side effect? 🤓

[@eddiev.261]

​@@michaelhenderson3241 The sarcasm flew over ya head

[@duartecabral55]

So getting 'jacked' ruined your life? What were you looking for, fat and out of shape? Lol

[@namebrandmason]

Everytime Dr. Mike specifies that he's a "Professor of Sports and Exercise Science," I get this mental image of him wearing a lab coat with the sleeves cut off.

[@RedfishCarolina]

Also wearing a squat belt around the outside of the jacket.

[@newellbriand1732]

Cut? They would very obviously be torn off. Ya goof.

[@leviconrad86]

Houston Jones style

[@IronMic-ee4kt]

It's like being a professor in liberal arts. Has about the same value as toilet paper

[@LTDLetsPlays]

@@IronMic-ee4ktdamn that’s a great line

[@randomvideosifeellikeposti1560]

I took creatine and had a heart attack. The doctors said it was the 8 bacon cheeseburgers a day but I think it was the creatine

[@gregorygrayson8044]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@leecasper6657]

It was the bun.

[@batguy39]

👩🏼‍🦼👩🏼‍🦼👩🏼‍🦼

[@jayg473]

🤦🏾‍♂️🤣😂🤣😂 that would be my exact conclusion too

[@Apollocreed2076]

😂😅😅

[@mitchellsteindler]

As a vegetarian, taking creating was insane. Ive never felt and been so strong. My muscles got huge. Really unbelievably effective for me.

[@beanmachine8509]

Same here, vegetarian 5 years, the strength/muscle gains have been insane. That's not to say I was weak/small before, but I've been asked/told "you must train... wow you've put on size, etc" a few times within the month after creatine loading phase.

[@danhurikan]

The automatically created english subtitles for this said "...competitive bodybuilder and Brazilian juicer Grappler..." at the beginning

[@Amar061]

Dunno why you felt the need to simply point out that the translation was accurate like that 🤔

[@forrestdick2104]

Sounds abt right 🤣

[@michaelshine6060]

@@Amar061hahah right!? I was like am I missing something here…

[@sebastianm.8576]

KZbin is exposing Dr Mike haha

[@mithilaum]

I mean, only one of those words is wrong …. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@getsmart3701]

47 year old ex athlete here. I never used Creatine until about one year ago and I can tell you it is the duck's nuts, it hydrates the muscles and helps me train and recover. Great stuff and I shall never be without it going forward.

[@millie35998]

Duck's nuts😂

[@user-ri5fe7ti6i]

I'm totally using "ducks nuts" from now on. Never heard that one before 😂😂

[@Trench_j]

BRO THE DUCKS NUTS 😂 im stealing this

[@davidf5609]

@@millie35998 Aussie thing. If kids around you say duck's guts.

[@MyMfDominoes]

“The bro at GNC isn’t helping much either!” Can confirm. Last time I went to buy ON monohydrate they told me you can only absorb something like 60% of ON’s monohydrate, but if you buy the $60 whatever-brand gummies you’ll absorb all 100% of it

[@jadenwalker8727]

Dr. Mike! 6 Months ago I found your channel while restarting my fitness journey after the birth of my daughter. I’ve lost 36 pounds since then and have learned so much. Thank you and the RP community for the work that you guys do!

[@robcook4500]

I have been arguing with my mom, coaches, and Army leadership for the better part of 17 years about The difference between creatine and creatinine. Thank you for making me realize I’ve been right this whole time

[@fox20rps94]

People who can't even complete a Google search, yikes 💀

[@sleepy1066]

Id understand maybe back in '07 google and the internet wasnt as big of a thing in terms of looking for scientific studies, but after like 2010 its absurd

[@pricklycats]

👍😭👍

[@BentusiProgenitors]

The fact you haven't won the argument in 17 years reflects just as badly on you as it does them

[@LastAphelion]

@@BentusiProgenitors Nah, try arguing with family members about how the homeopathics they keep buying because the nice Norwegian fake doctor they really adore told them to take it 30 years ago, doesn't actually do anything. They never listened then and they'll never listen now because it's what they want to believe.

[@Large_Sarge]

Creatine ruined me. I've been taking it for 2 months and I don't look like Ronnie. Fake news.

[@bestopinion9257]

Same here. It did not made me look like Ronnie. It made me look like Phil Heath. It is not what you expect for sure.

[@20ftBurmesePythonChaser]

Yeah , I'm taking creatine for 5 months but the best part is, it doesn't lengthened my dong but made it more jacked for sure.

[@jasonshults368]

The supplement you are looking for is melanin.

[@anonymous134y]

what's funny is that he didn't touch on the biggest elephant in the room. Contaminated chinese made creatine is 90% of the market.

[@TheAdatto]

Mine did. But current Ronnie

[@BootStrapTurnerVideography]

A side effect I noticed was intense swelling of my muscles. Makes me feel like I did when I was growing as a kid. Wife says to not worry about it and perhaps double up on the creatine.

[@coulortiz5352]

From what I have found there is a link between Creatine and Creatinine "Creatinine is a naturally occurring substance in the human body. It is a relatively simple compound that is produced in the muscles from the breakdown of creatine."

[@JagatJoti10]

I think that one of the reasons so many people are afraid of creatine is not for mistaking it for creatinine, but conflating it with the disease/injury marker creatine kinase assay (CK). Elevated CK could point towards muscle disorders and/or acute injury, such as rhabdomyolysis after car wreck. However it doesn't always mean a health problem, since working out REALLY hard, or participating in a breakdown event (like ultra-marathoning) could also cause temporary elevations in CK. Lab values, most of the time, cannot be determined clinically significant on their own. But I am sure there are people that have heard they had elevated CK, heard it was bad, then will give advice not to take creatine because "creatine" is bad.

[@philhooper4196]

I had the same issue. One doctor said I was going through renal failure, but took a different test and showed otherwise. They intially tested for Creatinine. Anther doctor told me that creatinine is a byproduct of Creatine

[@niccisherwood1550]

Fellow Dr. here. Something females or smaller individuals need to know is how taking too high a dose of creatine can affect you. I had vertigo issues for 8 months and took me 3 blood tests, an MRI and a F$%$ tone of research to finally figure out it was creatine. This is why, the inner ear helps with creatine mobilization in the body and too much creatine can generate pressure in that area and or the neck if you have finer or smaller structures (such as in females). This results in a constant low grade vertigo till you let the creatine levels drop, the dizziness disappeared between one and two weeks of not taking creatine. I spoke to hundreds of folks I could find on the internet with similar symptoms, a GP who is also a body builder and tested it myself by deliberately overloading again to see if vertigo appears and it did after a month of taking 5g per day. I have reduced my intake to 1g and no negative side effects. This is something not studied as of yet but probably should be!

[@herpyderpy4366]

Are you sticking with 1g per day for good or have you experimented with intermediate amounts to see how much you can take before it becomes an issue? Just curious on what your journey to 1g was like, whether it was being extra safe or if you worked your way down there, etc.

[@niccisherwood1550]

@@herpyderpy4366 not yet. 😁

[@JagatJoti10]

Fantastic, thank you! I eat quite a lot of animal protein and figured 5g wasn't needed for someone my size and would level up if I gained more muscle mass. Good to know that this supplement can be even cheaper; at 1-2g a day, a tub will last forever

[@JayEmCraft]

Thank you! This is great information to keep in mind in case I ever come across a patient or friend with those symptoms.

[@elcora7465]

As far as I know, Creatine gets broken down into Creatinine and then filtered out of your blood by your kidneys. So external Creatine intake may raise Creatinine serum levels. But because Creatinine is just a biomarker for kidney health, high creatinine levels may be meaningless for folks taking creatine because the underlying cause for the high levels is not a kidney disfunction but the external intake. Not sure why Dr. Mike says they are completely unrelated because they are clearly not.

[@tristanwegner]

Yeah. Mike saying they are a completely different thing is flat out wrong. Creatine even spontaneously breaks down into Creatinine in water over time. The biggest blunder I have caught Dr. Mike with.

[@DjDolHaus86]

Also take a break for a week or so if you know you've got a kidney function check coming up, might lead to false alarms or worse, hiding symptoms of an actual problem

[@Terron35]

Yeah creatinine is a byproduct. I have Lupus and my rheumatologist freaked out at my elevated creatinine levels. I told him I take creatine and he made me go to nephrology. The nephrologist checked my cystatin c levels to make sure I was all good but said it was from my creatine supplementation.

[@elcora7465]

@@Terron35 Physionic addressed exactly what youre describing. Pretty interesting video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqGcqqqGhceBqs0si=257HhBqkS-N62WBz

[@Mike.Oxlong]

I was thinking the same

[@adamdabomb1113]

FINALLY!!!! I WAS LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR THIS INFO THANK YOU MIKE

[@jcortes1791]

Dr. Mike, I'm so glad you do what you do and create quality content for KZbin. Educational and your sense of humor is top notch. You totally crack me up man, i love it! Thanks for all you do!

Your creatinine blood levels WILL increase when you take creatine, but creatinine itself isn't harmful. It's just an indicator that something might be wrong with your kidneys. But if your levels are high because you're taking creatine your kidneys are probably fine. Your doctor can do additional tests to verify since creatine levels doesn't tell them squat when you're taking creatine. That's what my doctor did.

[@tristanwegner]

You are right, and Dr. Mike was wrong to say they are completely different.

[@Edited_Comment]

Creatine can make the test show higher creatinine levels, but it doesn't actually increase the levels, if it does It's so small it's nothing to worry about. It makes the levels look higher in test they do for Kidneys but won't actually increase it.

[@robertt9342]

@@tristanwegner…or people take what was said out of context then freakout

[@swacfan2791]

Don't trust doctors... just get advice from a retired nurse.

[@covidcarl7480]

contradiction? if he's right then so is Dr Mike. Creatinine may be elevated indirectly from Creatine intake because of increased muscle cells breaking down in your blood (common with body builders and extreme athletes). in Krebs cycle creatine attaches to Adenosine Di-Phosphate and creates more ATP (tri) which basically hydrates muscle- this creatine actually helps your muscles and your body hydrate and fight dehydration.

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

When I got into rock climbing, I noticed it was actually a serious enhancement for that slow static type stuff. Way more endurance, and short term recovery

[@taefithendo]

I also rock climb along with high intensity workouts and with only 5g about 4 days a week I also notice a difference. Recovery is abnormal.

[@zacharylaschober]

there used to be concerns in climbing about increasing weight and vasoconstriction on creatine, but these were never merited out and would easily be overcome by slightly greater PCr stores on the rock and during training. while I do not give my clients dietary advice, there are a variety of supplements pushed onto climbers with smaller and irregular effects from less research, but creatine is one I am always confident with an athlete taking if they're curious. however, I often note you will be unable to notice the effect. there is research to support, but the effect is simply too small over background noise to say, and the advantage is for higher end force production and recovery of this energy pathway. you'll make strong, static moves more easily as a result of additional training capacity and quality.

[@TheBrandonn]

I literally just started watching vids about creatine last night and then you upload this. Wild timing

[@vmateo2842]

Loved this, doc. Kudos from the Caribbean!

[@duke605]

10:11 is so wrong. Creatinine is a byproduct of creatine. Yes it is naturally produced but when supplementing with creatine, you will have higher levels of creatinine. There is nothing wrong with this. You just need to tell your doctor that you supplement with creatine so they know why your creatinine are elevated. If your creatinine levels are elevated than that could indicate that something is wrong. High levels of creatinine aren't inherently bad, they're just a data point that can be used with other data points to gauge kidney function.

[@tristanwegner]

Yeah. Dr. Mike was factually wrong there.

[@IronMic-ee4kt]

Dr Mike proving once again that Exercise Science is not a medical degree for a reason. It's the liberal arts degree of the medical world.

[@jamesdavis8731]

@@tristanwegner he is wrong in a number of his videos.

[@IronMic-ee4kt]

We need to remember, he doesn't have any sort of recognized medical qualifications. He essentially has a PhD in broscience.

[@JP-xd6fm]

@@jamesdavis8731 So maybe he is *not* a doctor. Maybe is like Dr. Dree?

[@tjpld]

My anecdotal evidence is that my scalp dried out quite a lot leading to shedding hair and bad dandruff, when I started taking creatine. Fixed itself in 1-2 months after getting off it. I gave it another try and the side effect returned immediately.

[@samkitt]

Same here!

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

Well it causes muscle fluid retention, meaning you have to drink more water to stay hydrated. Are you sure you weren't just chronically dehydrated? Lol

[@capcohan931]

Yeah my beard and hair started getting flaky too. Came off of it twice and I'm sure creatine is what's causing it. Also Dr. Mike didn't touch on the DHT increase for some reason

[@tjpld]

@@GlorifiedGremlin I already drink a lot of water on a daily basis. Piss was also running clear.

[@ayushw]

Yep came to say the same thing, led to increased hair loss for me, it'll probably be fine for you just keep an eye out and monitor

[@davidbaker3889]

Dr. Mike's has some secret villain motivation for not disclosing the possibility of hairloss..."if everyone is bald, nobody will be!"

[@aarons1350]

Surprised there was no mention on the effects creatine has on dht and thereby hairloss

[@pindot787]

hairloss is mostly genetics anyway, I took creatine for yearss for every single day, didnt experience any hairloss.

[@jaroslavsvaha6065]

I'm already bald, if creatine can get rid of the rest so I can stop shaving my head every 3 days, I'm in.

[@aarons1350]

@@pindot787 it accelerates hair loss for those genetically disposed to it. Big difference between losing your hair at 40 vs 30. If your follicles aren’t sensitive to dht (genetic) it will have no effect on

[@dimosereqko2]

I was looking for that the whole video! That`s the only reason I don`t take creatine

[@belltheTACO]

Love your approach to giving advice. There’s a lot of overwhelming information out there but you make things simple for idiots like me to understand 💪🏼

[@lokwidator]

I would've loved Dr. Mike to comment on the study that connects creatine to hair loss.

[@PriusTurbo]

There has only been one study out of thousands on creatine that focused on hair loss. Creatine does increase serum DHT levels which impacts DHT sensitive follicles which causes hair loss in those individuals. Since there is a concerning lack of studies on this topic, one is forced to look into anecdotal evidence, of which there are plenty of stories to show that creatine does cause hair loss. I used to take it in my 20s when I was not prone to hair loss and then stopped for over 10 years. Resumed it about the same time my brother started taking it an I had no idea it was linked to hair loss. Three months in to taking it, we had a conversation about our hair loss coincidentally and then I looked into it and was surprised to find all of this information. We stopped taking it and immediately noticed the loss stop. I came to the conclusion that there is not enough of a gain from creatine to jeopardize my hair but other than that, from experience, it is a great supplement.

[@lucasbertolini4896]

Up

[@zants_]

Even in the research that found an acceleration of hairloss in individuals, these individuals were already predisposed to such hairloss patterns, it simply accelerated something that was already going to happen. Given this, if you're genetically predisposed to hairloss, your first concern should be if you want to use hairloss products/treatment or if this doesn't bother you, and from there decide if you would also want to take creatine or not. Basically, don't put the cart before the horse.

[@davesprivatelounge]

this is my concern as well

[@SteveJonesOwnsDSP]

Big Creatine lobby doesn't want anymore studies done with the link between Creatine and Hair Loss via DHT increase. These supplement companies will do anything to protect their profits

[@ShaunRF]

Instructions unclear, ate diamonds.

[@danielhuff1397]

@@ShaunRF 🤣

[@GilFavor101]

I'm a plumber, where are you located?! HAhahaha!!!

[@DjDolHaus86]

Good news - you'll get them back within 48hrs Bad news - you'll have to retrieve them within 48hrs

[@starlord2184]

☠️🍻

[@JP-xd6fm]

@@DjDolHaus86 Worse news: diamonds will grind you from inside....

[@derekbilderoy7162]

Another video! This constant flow of quality content is just astonishing. Dr Mike how do you do it? Amazing work output both in and out of the gym. I'm learning so much stuff every day from your channel. Thanks for all your hard work. You winning.

[@HypnoticPattern]

Mike, known your wife through the medical community and car community for eva. Just got into strength training and really appreciate your humor injected and scientific approach. Keep doing awesome stuff. this was helpful.

[@Ceredron]

As an intermediate/advanced lifter, I started creatine about a year into my lifting and it was the perfect time to do so. I will say, it gave me a little bit of stomach trouble at the beginning, but I've since lowered from 5g to 3g and taken it religiously since, and the problems stopped about a week or two in. I'm not convinced it wasn't something external but I definitely had some digestive issues for a little bit before getting into the groove.

[@WoundChannel.]

Same here, being on the smaller side (150lbs) after my muscles were loaded I had to drop to 3gs a day to stop from having stomach issues.

[@WoundChannel.]

@just9911 I didn't even think to do that! I'll give that a shot

[@frankr2921]

5g at a time bloats the shit outta me. 3g is no issue. I agree

[@yewtewbstew547]

I had that the first time I tried it when I did the BS "loading" thing. I can't remember how much I took there but it was obviously more than 5g. I figure it's probably just because you're digesting (relatively) large quantities of something that you wouldn't normally, so it causes a bit of a temporary upset.

[@mambofever]

Extremely well timed video for me. Currently going through tests for Kidney stones. Doctor's are certain it's between creatine and coke zero that is causing them..... Whilst refusing to acknowledge a family history of them. I'm gonna pre-load 50g right now in protest. Edit: Gents thank you for all the advice. It's much appreciated and will be taken onboard.

[@BenSnyder0701]

still need to drink a lot of water when taking creatine

[@mambofever]

@@BenSnyder0701 I do brother. It's just the last couple years they have started (in 30's now) had 5+ years on creatine no problems.

[@chugalug8218]

@@mambofeverIt’s inevitable to get some kidney stones within your lifetime

[@SquatchWatcher]

​@@mambofever Study up on foods high in oxalates & see how many are in your regular diet. Definitely stay away from Spinach.....but Kale is ok

[@thunderchubbs7640]

When I told my doctor i take creatine he looked at me like I told him his mama wears army boots.

[@Toria1980]

This is awesome as I’m waiting for mine, thanks 😊

[@NaaaaYaaaa]

Almost 2 million subs! Happy early 2 Mills Dr. Mike!! and Mr. Scott!!

[@Supreme_Knowledge.]

It affects everyone differently. It caused me to have ED. I stopped and I’m back to normal. It wasn’t worth it for me.

[@dirkdiggler2379]

Tried creatine two times in my life. First time after a month of taking it I was getting huge! gave me extreme anxiety and felt un easy all the time(this was 2 years ago) I thought it was because i was taking Creatine HCL. in January 2024 i started taking creatine monohydrate, first few weeks.. extreme bulkiness and i could lift a lot more.. then came the anxiety and uneasyness. Made me anxious at work and I couldn't concentrate like if i had adhd.. 1 month off of it and i'm back to my normal self.. Not for me!

[@zw01]

Creatinine is a metabolite of creatine, though, which means that supplementation of creatine can lead to an increase in serum creatinine (not harmful) and thereby an over-diagnosis of CKD. Creatine is not harmful at recommended dosages but is not entirely unrelated to creatinine.

[@tristanwegner]

true

[@nomoreliberties]

Dude, seriously you are the best!

[@jacobfransenjf]

appreciate the no BS straight facts approach this channel got, sprinkled with some dumb jokes. by far my favorite fitness channel to both learn and laugh! keep it up you big bald beautiful man.

[@jameslynnbudlong5658]

I'm 63, been lifting for years, and have taken creatine at 5 g. for years no problems. I heard a study that for older people 10 g. daily can help even more. For 2 weeks I have been taking 10 g. daily with no problems. I see some increase in strength. I set a pr today with 8 reps on 15% inclines with 46 kilo dumbbells. Maybe it's a myth, but I'm sticking with 10 g. per day for a bit to see if I get some more gains.

[@Sbermuz]

By the way, creatine metabolism DOES increase your serum level of creatinine, they're not 2 completely separate compounds, one is the metabolite of the other.. Creatinine gets anyhow filtered by the kidneys and it's still relatively little increased under creatine use. This said, it's just important to take it into account and maybe (maybe) as a doctor I would not suggest it for people with chronic renal diseases. For the rest, on point as always 👌

[@agustinreyes6111]

My egfr drops to 61 (normally at 78)with creatine and high protein diet. My Cystatin C egfr is always on the 90’s.

[@Yoalli_1337]

@@agustinreyes6111 Having a lower eGFR means you have more creatinin in you blood wich correlates to you higher protein diet and creatinin intake. That means it does increase your creatinin-production. The kidney has a kind of fixed elimination of your pee and with that you creatinin. Having a lower creatinin clearence is either because of your kidney getting unhealthier or you create a lot of creatinin that your kidney doesnt eliminate fast enough. (And yes there are a lot of different factors, but this are the two main things for your situation now) Can i ask what kind of estimated GFR calculation your physician used? Because that is a pretty low gfr for a healthy young man. It should be over 90ml/min for a healthy individual.

[@Sbermuz]

@@agustinreyes6111 that’s why it’s considered more reliable than creatinine eGFR :) it’s an interesting find nonetheless

[@agustinreyes6111]

@@Yoalli_1337 I don’t know which they used but I was concerned about it too until my Cystatin C showed better numbers. I should add I’m on TRT.

[@hunterbinkley8739]

Cool story bro

[@RoDo13]

As always the best facts out there thanks Mike ! ❤

[@ready1take1]

very informative, thanks dr mike!

[@CoffeeAndSteel]

Dr. Mike's channel is on creatine. Look at all those gains!

[@robburgandy6072]

Congrats on 2M subs when you reach it guys! Creatine loves me twice a day. Keep up the excellent and informative work. Keep grinding to be jacked all you certified kings 💪🥳

[@ThomasAT86]

New ad woooooo! I almost never skip you guys' ads.

[@J_Eusebio]

Great video Doc

[@shiroff]

Dr. Mike, could you consider a video on TRT being pushed from treatment into enhancement range for guys in 40s-50s?

[@CamberFitness]

💵 I bought a cheap Walmart brand of creatine when I first started using it, and I started having acne break outs on my face and shoulders (this was in my 30s so it’s not a puberty thing). I stopped using it, and the pimples went away after a couple weeks. Tried it again and the same thing happened. Then I switched to a different brand that was a little more expensive, and I’ve never had it happen again since. 🤷‍♂️ So I wonder if there were any weird additives in the Walmart brand even though the ingredients only said creatine monohydrate. 🤔

[@davidshmavid5]

It's not FDA regulated so cheap Walmart brand could have anything in it. A friend who was taking Saint John's Wort for mild depression got the cheap Walmart brand and had some bad side effects. They got a more expensive brand and it was night and day. Found out through internet research that Walmart brand often contains heavy metals.

[@CamberFitness]

@@davidshmavid5 yea, just want folks to be aware to not just get the cheapest thing.

[@TheGd2812]

I m getting back into doing basic exercises,,watching all the videos now I just do everything in slow motion...not able to do a lot of reps but it's super effective ,thanks for this technique

[@-atreya52]

Thank you so much for this valuable information.

[@JordanKarl53]

The only thing more sticky than versa gripps is a gym bro’s sock drawer.

[@MarkaveliRises]

Lol

[@mac5917]

Good one😂

[@colbyscott8545]

Dr. Mike, I wish you had addressed the claim that creatine causes hair loss. From what I understand, creatine doesn't necessarily cause hair loss, but it can accelerate hair loss in individuals genetically predisposed to it. What is your understanding on the matter?

[@dROUDebateMeCowards]

Creatine helps build skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle produces small amounts of testosterone in excess of that produced by your testes, and also down regulates hpg mechanisms that would signal for your body to reduce production based on the increase. Any increase in testosterone balance will also increase DHT unless you’re deficient in 5a-reductase generally, have a loss of function mutation (partial or complete) in the gene that codes for it, or taking drugs that inhibit it. If you are predisposed to male pattern baldness, this would likely cause a small effect. However, just training your muscles to get the same extra size and strength with no creatine would have the exact same effect. And it would still be very small because the increase in testosterone production from skeletal muscle is marginal unless they are very huge.

[@colbyscott8545]

@@dROUDebateMeCowards thank you!

[@Chevsilverado]

From what I can tell, there’s a mechanism that creatine mayyy increase risk of hair loss in some people, but to such a small and random extent that other factors play a much larger part in hair loss. The fact that you’re training and building muscle, and therefore increasing testosterone, far outweighs any increase in hair loss creatine may cause in just some individuals. You see this logic with tons of foods too. A study says “____ increases risk of cancer”. It ends up in the news and everyone repeats that statement. In reality the study shows a tiny correlation that’s barely statistically relevant, and likely the product of fudging some numbers anyway… Then you do some comparison and find out that being in the sun for 10 minutes increases risk of cancer far more than whatever the study claims for that food.

[@jameswalker7420]

I've taken creatine for most of 28 years now. Still have a 100% full head of hair. Only side effect I've ever had is muscle cramping,

[@Sup3rManolo]

@@dROUDebateMeCowards Appreciate the informative write-up.

[@johnfreeman1272]

Love your sense of humor. Your awesome knowledge is cool, too.

[@johnnyrock852]

Love the hoodie! Thanks for the facts...

[@alexfortin7209]

These are your best videos: 1) precise 2) short 3) actionable

[@EthelJung-j5w]

One genuine side effect of Creatine for me was much worsened acne. The only things I can see causing it are the slight increase in testosterone or the dehydration, I think more so the testosterone as I was drinking 2 gallons of water per day.

[@TravelBandit]

Does creatine lower testosterone?

[@armenkostandyan9402]

For me it got better with creatine - some have traces of milk in them (lactose) that is causing the acne to get worse, but 2.5-3 liters of water a day should prevent dehydration, plus you are sweating more while taking creatin so that might be another cause of acne

[@koolkrieg]

its because creatine will increase your DHT level and increased DHT level will activate the sebum production in your glands. Some people are are prone to overactivation of the sebum glands due to DHT like myself. I took creatine all my 20s having "adult acne", Once i figured out its from the creatine I stopped taking it and never saw a trace of acne or even pimples again

[@Charles-mv7sv]

Yet, people on carnivore have less acne... And creatine comes from meat

[@gabrielmagalhaes859]

​@@Charles-mv7svreally small quantities tho

[@joeschmoe2697]

Literally was debating getting on creatine next week so this is perfectly timed!

[@Urban0utlawGT]

Fantastic video as always. Wish you covered studies of hair loss though

[@hyugahyuga3761]

Great video! It's interesting how little is mentioned about hormones, especially testosterone, which is crucial for building muscles. For natural exercisers, the book 'You Are Stronger Than You Think' by Borlest has some useful insights on testosterone that could be helpful.

[@Lyricsss34]

Bots are promoting the book, 4 minutes and 113 likes.

[@returnalnocturnal7729]

​@@Lyricsss34lmao they cut the bots as soon as you commented it. Thought they were clever

[@nile_prince7498]

Another clear no bs video, love your work. Can you comment about the studies showing an increase in serum DHT and its relation to accelerated male pattern hairloss?

[@TilerYo]

He wants us to be bald like him. /s

[@ManuelBaca-wm1gm]

Thank you for this video 🙏

[@schulme123]

A KZbin M&Ms ad right after the in video ad for the RP diet app, classic!

[@PriusTurbo]

There has only been one study out of thousands on creatine that focused on hair loss. Creatine does increase serum DHT levels which impacts DHT sensitive follicles which causes hair loss in those individuals. Since there is a concerning lack of studies on this topic, one is forced to look into anecdotal evidence, of which there are plenty of stories to show that creatine does cause hair loss. I used to take it in my 20s when I was not prone to hair loss and then stopped for over 10 years. Resumed it about the same time my brother started taking it an I had no idea it was linked to hair loss. Three months in to taking it, we had a conversation about our hair loss coincidentally and then I looked into it and was surprised to find all of this information. We stopped taking it and immediately noticed the loss stop. I came to the conclusion that there is not enough of a gain from creatine to jeopardize my hair but other than that, from experience, it is a great supplement.

[@arghnews]

Upvoted and pitching in, as someone who took it, saw considerable hair thinning, and has since stopped.

[@jameswalker7420]

28 years of mostly taking creatine, hair is still as thick and full as it ever was.

[@leomdk939]

Did your hair grow back after stopping creatine? (And were you taking any meds like minoxidil or finasteride to prevent hair loss?)

[@eggman6605]

Same here. I got some serious hair loss/receding hairline on creatine. My hairline has receded about 10yrs ahead of expected based on the other men in my family. Stopped taking it because it wasn't worth it as a casual lifter.

[@eggman6605]

​@@leomdk939It didn't grow back in my case. The hair follicles affected by DHT shrink and eventually die.

[@thrivin6312]

Hair loss? Thoughts? Increase DHT?

[@thaiboxxer22]

I’ve been on 5 grams for 7 years now still nothing knock on wood

[@mikefacts9405]

There is a study on it, taking creating will make your hairs fly away from you haha.

[@andrewesquivel4]

Certain individuals can experience hair loss due to creatine, if you want to risk it by all means go for it

[@RWE-1978]

No doubt about it for me. I am thinning, but still have most of my hair. Creatine kicked the loss into full gear. I quit 6 months ago and it has stopped thinning and maybe went back to close to pre creative levels. At 46 vanity is leaving me quickly, but I rather have my hair, than having 10 more lbs on my bench.

[@twistedstrength.]

I respectfully request Dr. Mike’s official approval for the coinage of a new colloquialism for youths consuming creatine as creatineenagers

[@twistedstrength.]

Creatine killed my whole family, stole my wife, and made me lose my job. Never mix creatine with whisk&y and m&th. You’ll quickly find yourself in anabolics anonymous.

[@danton13]

Just this morning I had a kidney ultrasound because of concerns by my doctor due to high levels of blood creatine. I have no risk factors for kidney disease, the scan showed nothing, and all other blood and urine tests were negative. I don't know if the doc has mistaken creatine for creatanin, or if I actually have high creatanin and should be worried. But she definitely said the word creatine. This video came at the perfect time for me to realise what might be going on here. Thanks Dr Mike!

[@craig42069]

Why is it always a bald guy saying creatine doesn't make you bald

[@Mikathedog100]

Because intelligent types who are highly capable of reading and interpreting studies are more likely to go bald 😉

[@archygrey9093]

They are bald cause their brain so big no room left for hair follicles ​@@Mikathedog100

[@mikefacts9405]

Hahahahahhahahahahahaha

[@TheFluffyTRex]

Because many of them also do Testosterone - which makes you bald faster

[@lt3880]

​@@TheFluffyTRex bingo

[@domninin]

What do you think about creatine for people with androgenetic alopecia? There is a study that links creatine consumption to increased DHT levels in the body, which might increase hair loss in people predisposed to it. Would be interesting to me to hear your opinion about this.

[@Amar061]

i lost all of my hair on the top of my head (classis male pattern baldness) until my 16th year. Started using creatine at 18. Creatine can, therefore, affect even your past self and has strong quantum properties! (sarcasm)

[@Blimblamthecorebock]

Hi Dr. Mike, I would love to see a video of the other supplements you take/think are beneficial. Really Enjoy watching your videos! Thanks

[@TheNadOby]

There was one couple of months ago. None of the supplements are with shit.

[@thaddius1727]

I already knew all this, I just like hearing you talk.

[@SaiyanStrength]

Dr. Mike, please make a video breaking down preworkout ingredients such as L-Citrulline, Beta Alanine, Betaine Anhydrous, etc. and the optimal doses. Similar to the videos Derek from MPMD used to post. Thank you in advance RP team! Like if you agree so we can get the video we want!!

[@cyclist5000]

Would have liked to hear about Kre-Alkalyn

[@SuperlativeElectric]

Same here!!!

[@infernus6278]

its a scam/garbage

[@SuperlativeElectric]

@@infernus6278 just doesn’t absorb or something? It’s supposed to have lesser side effects.

[@infernus6278]

@@SuperlativeElectric bro science of sample of 1, but I've tried several different brands and it had 0 effect. As soon I switch back to mono the effects become obvious. Its general consensus that is not worth it

[@V12BenzAMG]

Thank you for the logically and evidence based breakdown on creatine 🙏

[@jt-oz]

Fast becoming the best health and fitness channel on the internet

[@duartecabral55]

Im 61 and can tell anyone that creatine really works. It takes a little while to get into your system but ince you're there, it will make a difference.

[@fps079]

I'm 63, and started this year, been 6 months on 5 mg every day. It added another set of reps to each of my exercises. Water weight gain is real. Strength/muscle gains are real too. Feels like an additional 7-10% in strength and ability.

[@bestopinion9257]

@@fps079 yes, that's what you can expect from it, plus up to 10%

[@jackrogers8633]

i didnt see a difference at all

[@LastAphelion]

@@jackrogers8633 Ive had several brands or types that didnt feel like I was taking anything at all (particularly the ON micronized or krealkalyne whatever). Felt like normal non- micro mono had the best feelable results

[@I-do-not-read-replies]

@@jackrogers8633roughly 30% of people are non responders. You sure you used it for a month everyday at the appropriate dose ?

[@Nicaveli]

The baldy says there's no downsides people

[@mikefacts9405]

Hahahahhahaha

[@dimitargatev9861]

Hey Mike, thanks for the deep dive! In a previous video you recommended the load up phase, that why the change of tone?

[@nomoreliberties]

Dam bro u destroying it. Your fucking humor is better than humor can be defined. I now look forward to any video of urs in my feed!

[@sirjonsmithiii992]

I took creatine in the past (5g daily). Started losing my hair. I stopped taking it and my hair slowly started growing back and now it is back to normal. I tried creatine more than once and the same thing happened. I heard a lot of people say it was not a side effect of it, but it was for me.

[@kahashikun]

There doesn't seem to be many official studies on it, so science-based guys like Dr. Mike and Jeff Nippard will always say there isn't enough scientific evidence, and I agree because it's just a stated fact...BUT the sheer amount of anecdotal experiences I've heard of on top of my own personal experience really has me convinced. I got super consistent with my creatine intake in my mid-20s and noticed significant hair shedding in the shower. The corners of my hairline move back like an inch in just a few months. I had a very strong, round hairline before that. I stopped taking it right around then and I'm now in my 30s. If the hair loss wasn't tied to creatine, you'd expect my hairline to keep moving back because it's supposed to be a natural part of aging, but it hasn't. While I never regained the hair I lost, my hairline has been solid since then with significantly less hair shedding in the shower.

[@user-yw8hs8sv9p]

It will lose your hair. Look at Dr Mike

[@R4nnek]

how long did you take creatine when you started losing your hair and how long did it take to return to normal after not using it anymore? just curious

[@sirjonsmithiii992]

@@R4nnek It was very slow (losing and growing back). I was consistent in taking it. I would guess the first time, six months of taking it every day. It took a few months to grow back. Second time, was a few months, but I was aware of it/watching for it that time. I tried lowering the dose to 3g and that did not help.

[@krisalan5327]

So what if you're already going bald. Would it help me to lose the rest of my hair so I don't have to shave my head anymore? Lol

[@jamesdendy6384]

Fun story Dr Mike...my creatinine levels were super high and freaked my doctors out. Only thing that had changed between my annual blood/lab work is introducing daily 5g creatine. Agreed to lay off creatine to isolate if that was the issue or if i was in the beginning stages of kidney failure... 6 months of no creatine later, levels returned to normal. So I'd have to disagree entirely that creatine has 0 effect on creatinine

[@user-yw8hs8sv9p]

You are spot on.

[@IronMic-ee4kt]

Dr Mike is a bit clueless sometimes, he likes to remind us that he doesn't actually have any formal medical qualifications.

[@sethspicer270]

This is actually one of my areas of research! Fascinating. Kidney health is estimated by GFR, which is derived partially from creatinine. Obviously, the more creatine you have in your body, the more of the breakdown biproduct you will excrete. The effect of supplementing on these number has been well established and is a predictable rise. Further, docs who should know better know that it’s not actually poor kidney health, just the equation being biased. Those who supplement can expect .1-.3 increases in creatinine levels I’m too lazy to search for the study again but I’m a 3rd year in med school, CSCS, ATC, MS for my credenchies

[@The_Hulkster]

Thank you, Doctor

[@thomasclayton3284]

I took creatine for several months (that was it) in college. 3 years later i failed a life insurance blood test, because they found high levels of creatine in my liver. They didn't care if it was from a supplement, they wouldn't cover me. I stayed away from creatine and after another 10years, I finally passed their blood test.

[@xthesayuri5756]

Creatine causes sleep issues for me. Like very light sleep, where I wake up from the smallest disturbance.

[@petehome]

Same for me. And gets me really bad dreams.

[@tcrvo01]

Me too, can't have deep sleep

[@xthesayuri5756]

@@tcrvo01 I thought it was just because I am working out on the evening but that wasn't it. Stopped taking creatine. Bad sleep outweighs the 1% extra creatine gains any day.

[@alentoalen]

Same, I feel energized and good but have a hard time falling asleep...

[@svenevens8027]

This is the exact reason I stopped taking it I'm so glad I'm not the only one

[@Austin_Torres]

Dr Mike Straight to the fU@kin point much appreciated. Been taking creatine since i was 15 im 43 now im fine.

[@eculturer]

I just bought creatine and I just needed this ❤ Dr. Mike always share something so useful and professional

[@user-bj7yj6yr6x]

Does creatine cause hair loss or is that a myth too? Thanks for the video 🙏🏼

[@privatebandana]

There's zero evidence of a link between creatine and hair loss.

[@cajampa]

It is not a general effect that everyone gets. But if you are one of the unlucky like me, you get bad shedding and hair loss from creatine, just stop taking it and it should go back to normal. I have tried several times over the years with the same effect every time.

[@tcrvo01]

​Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence@@privatebandana

[@RWE-1978]

It causes hairloss in some people.. No doubt about it

[@sonia417]

For some,yes. Its had bad effects on my hair (a woman with hip long hair) and its absolutely not worth it for me. It caused thinning,dandruff (which I absolutely never have). It did make my muscle look insane,literally like I was on steroids. Super weird and cool,but hair is #1

[@kmart1303]

I can't take creatine. I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and every time I take creatine, I get premature ventricular contractions and strange arrhythmias. I've tested many times in the past 20 years and every time the creatine gets loaded up, my heart gets weird, and every time I stop taking it, it goes away. Very anomalous and I fortunate, so I just stick with test and primo.

[@HH-vq4nr]

This is what concerns me. I get PVCs, and atrial fibrillation runs in my family, so I’m hesitant to try creatine after reading online that some people experience heart issues with it.

[@hadykhalid4735]

Would love to see a video on NMN Great content as always 🦍

[@Biesliek1]

Been dealing with shortness of breath randomly for months now, so I went off cycle for a month. Started feelin good so I'm starting a cycle of creatine again. Did some bloodwork, heartchecks and lung checks but all of those were fine.

[@jackwilliamson611]

is hair loss a real concern Dr Mike?

[@DrSiddiqui]

Yes

[@RWE-1978]

Yes, no doubt. Especially if you are already thinning. I didn't notice it in college when I took it 25 years ago, but at 46 it took my thinning to next level. Had to quit and it is slowing coming back.

[@sonia417]

Yes.

[@nolanmarion4090]

I tried creatine several times. I can assure you people get stomach problems. Most definitely the cre hurting my insides. But hearing Mike tell me it’s all in my head and gaslight me , I might try again!

[@reneverheij6938]

How much did you take though?

[@nijego]

If you got Stomach aches or even diarrhea you probably took too much

[@killersaint89]

Same there was some discomfort when I first started taking it. However after a week or so that fell off. Try taking it before bed then you won't notice the discomfort as much.

[@capbanana3851]

Don't listen to Dr Mike blindly. Listen to your own body try creatine once more for a while and drink plenty of water and if the problems don't happen then you're probably fine but if they occur again then stop taking it, always listen to your own body and use logical reasoning.

[@montgomeryscot6623]

Yeah, I was on 5mg daily, definitely saw the size and strength improvments, but it played havoc with my guts and just wasn't worth it in the end, I workout purely because I enjoy it, not for comp or sports, so it just doesn't matter for me.

[@MuhammadKhan-py7md]

Icl, noticed a big differenc ein my energy throughout the day after taking creatine, before id feel sliggish but now I'm always energetic and notice a drop in energy when i stop creatine

[@ComicWolverineJacked]

I can attest to the feeling stronger and looking bigger while using it. When I stopped taking it for a long period of time (financial reasons) I looked flat and felt weaker. Could be a placebo effect but being back to consistency I feel better.

[@g.e.o.r.g.e...]

Hair?

[@billleach7915]

I learned from Darren Candow that the one thing not to mix creatine with is coffee (which is how I have been taking it). He said there is mounting research coming out that shows caffeine and creatine counter act each other. He did say, coffee and then maybe an hour and have later creatine.

[@chrisedler6758]

I heard that also a year back. I've since been just adding my creatine to my afternoon post workout shake and problem solved. I don't notice any difference either way.

[@billleach7915]

@@chrisedler6758 Thanks, good to know. I did start taking it today way after morning coffee. I figured I might as well just for optimization. Candow did explain it mechanistically but I live in a different geekdom so I can remember what he said.

[@mathieufredette3157]

It's another myth. I've always took my creatine in my coffee and had great results.

[@billleach7915]

@@mathieufredette3157 It's not a myth, it's just research showing the two counteract each other. I was just providing information from an actual creatine researcher. Believe what you want, I don't give a shit.

[@mathieufredette3157]

@@billleach7915 show me the research on this. I'm serious. Please show me.

[@PearlCityBeats]

I started creatine for the first time not that long ago, and I felt a HUGE difference in my workouts after just 3 days. I felt like a 22 year old again in the gym. The improvement in SFR was significant.

[@perpetualtedium]

coming off of being super inconsistent with training and not supplementing creatine since pandemic (now training and supplementing regularly), I can confirm that the turgidity due to not loading both looks and feels super nice. Used to cycle off every few months then load for a week and I always felt puffy during but just accepted it as part of the routine. Just started supplementing only 5g/day a month ago and 100% for not loading now

[@happyotakumanmike]

Nutricost is a good source for anything simple on the cheap like creatine.

[@ginosko_]

What a generic sounding brand

[@happyotakumanmike]

@ginosko_ just old enough as a brand to not be lying about what they are selling and still keep a decent price. Started in 2012. Most scam brands don't last a decade.

[@cajampa]

Nutricost is great for cheap generic stuff. They don't sell cut scams. There is so many cheap brands that cut their stuff.

[@happyotakumanmike]

@@cajampa exactly

[@scentlessxapprentice]

Don’t buy supplements off Amazon either. I was buying mine from there and something must’ve been fake because my liver enzymes shot up hella high. But from a store if you can

[@tox_goblin]

Do it cause hair loss ?

[@jasonshults368]

When you eat meat, does your hair fall out? Because meat contains creatine.

[@hooktraining3966]

​@@jasonshults368when you drink water do you drown? Because people drown in water.

[@danseguin3916]

Absolutely not

[@eggman6605]

If you are genetically predisposed it may accelerate the process. Some people are fine. Personally I noticed heavy hair loss when on creatine.

[@eggman6605]

​@@jasonshults368You would need to eat about 1kg of beef steak everyday to get the same dosage as a 5g daily spoonful of monohydrate. You would need to consume even more if it's chicken and about double that if it's tuna.

[@StudioSouster]

Creatine definitely made my hair shed like crazy. I stopped and so did the hair loss.

[@clubbizarre]

i love the humor in this

[@not_glad]

Creatinine is a no go topic in my house. My dad caught me taking it rectally a while ago and it's been a taboo subject ever since.