Creatine Interest Fueled by Sports Heroes
July 1, 1998 3 minutes read
Creatine Interest Fueled by Sports Heroes
When the man seen as most likely to break Roger Maris' single-season home run record calls a dietary supplement "good stuff," it could be hard for physicians to warn weekend warriors and professional athlete wannabes away from a product whose long-term effects are unknown.
In a June 10 article in the Chicago Tribune, baseball star Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals said of creatine, "It's good stuff. It does everything you'd want."
McGwire credits creatine with helping him build the massive biceps and forearms that give him the explosive strength necessary for hitting home runs. And, he is among dozens of stars who credit this supplement with improving their performance.
The June 4 edition of USA Today featured a sports section cover story noting how many pro teams actually approve of creatine use by their athletes; many others adopt an official position that neither recommends nor discourages the supplement. A New York Knicks coach told USA Today that he estimated 50% of the basketball players in the National Basketball Association use creatine supplements regularly.
Given this acceptance by superstars, it's no wonder that creatine sales hit about $100 million last year and are expected to grow at double-digit rates for the next few years.
The May-June 1998 issue of Natural Health noted that creatine could be useful for weight lifters looking to add bulk, but that some unanswered questions remain about long-term safety, muscle cramps, and muscle strain.
In its January 12, 1998, issue, Newsweek magazine noted the unanswered questions surrounding the supplement and its popularity among athletes, especially those in high school and college, looking for that "extra edge."
Even in pro athletic circles the debate rages. Some teams, noting cramping and other potential side effects, have taken an active anti-creatine stance. Others, however, actively promote the product and provide it to players who request it.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team distributes to all its players a position paper on the supplement that notes concerns such as muscle cramping due to electrolyte imbalance, increased risk of dehydration and heat-related stress, lack of long-term studies, and questions about the quality and purity of supplements. The paper's closing statement: "The Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not endorse creatine supplementation as a training adjunct to our players."
The American College of Sports Medicine has also called for further research on creatine following an article in the February 1998 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise that showed some potential athletic benefits from creatine use. Yet, researchers again questioned the long-term effects and noted that their research showed only limited benefit for specific athletic uses.
Physicians know that the desire to perform can drive decisions to use products despite potential safety questions. In a June 10th Chicago Tribune article, Chicago White Sox first baseman Greg Norton admitted he knew of the safety questions surrounding creatine but also said he was undeterred since the questions are just that-questions. In his words, "If they say my liver's going to fall out, I'll stop taking it."
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