Creatine Supplements

Creatine supplements are high energy supplements mostly used by budding bodybuilders and professional bodybuilders and athletes ’to enhance their muscles and body mass. At the same time it improves their overall performance during high intensity sports and enables individuals to work harder and longer to achieve their goals.

Although many individuals have accepted the use of this naturally occurring substance and key to building powerful muscle, and much more and disconnected its use with that of steroids there is still somewhat of a stigma associated with its use. Nonetheless, this supplement is still considered one of the most popular and sought after supplement on the market today and for good reason.

Many forms of Creatine supplements are available, the most popular being Creatine monohydrate – Creatine mixed with molecules of water and Creatine ethyl ester (CEE). Creatine monohydrate and Creatine ethyl ester can be taken as powder mixed with milk, capsule or in tablet form.

Benefits of Creatine

Below are descriptions and benefits of various Creatine supplements which are available and used by athletes today in the market:

Creatine Gluconate – this is used as nutritional supplements by athletes and body builders. Creatine Gluconate is a white coloured powder and to bond with gluconate this creatine uses ionic salts. As the name suggests Creatine gluconate uses glucose as delivery vehicle. Creatine gluconate in tandem with a gluconate compound creates a complex two-stage delivery system. The glucose and creatine are separated in the gastrointestinal system; the separated glucose provides a shot of insulin spike thus allowing the body muscle to absorb creatine more efficiently and quickly. This helps body builders and athletes to achieve better performance as they are able to add creatine more quickly into their muscles.

Creatine Orotate – which is another popular supplement used as nutritional supplement primarily by body builders. Creatine Orotate is made of Creatine and Orotic acid; these two compounds have been scientifically proven to enhance performance in athletes and body builders and are slightly soluble in water. Creatine increases the mass and Orotic acid as the scientific study suggests can be used to create carnosine by increasing its natural form into Beta Alanine. When taken as a compound Creatine Orotate, increases muscle phosphocreatine as well as increasing muscle uridine levels more effectively. Muscle phosphocreatine and Creatine levels are increased 38% and 3%, respectively with increasing the intramuscular uridine levels.

Creatine Pyruvate – is a compound which includes Creatine and pyruvic acid and is used by body builders as supplement to get ergogenic results and is completely soluble in water. In its compound form Creatine Pyruvate is 10 times more soluble than in their individual form. Creatine helps in giving energy to muscles which are vital for prolonged endurance and getting the best results from activities such as weightlifting, body building and sprinting, on the other hand pyruvate increases the rate of glucose extraction from blood into muscle when exercising or at rest, leveling muscle with carbohydrate content so vital for achieving better endurance levels. Clinical studies have shown that Pyruvate reduces body fat without effecting muscle protein, a vital component in achieving lean muscle mass. Creatine Pyruvate supplements is ideal nutritional support for athletes looking to maximize muscular performance and endurance in high-intensity exercise programs.

Dicreatine Malate – this, too, is a compound comprising of Creatine and Malic acid and is soluble in water. Dicreatine Malate is very similar in structure to Ethyl Ester Malate, the malic acid in Dicreatine
Malate exclusively helps in building muscle. This results in a more water-soluble compound removing any chances of gastric acid and leaving a better impact on ATP cycle. Dicreatine Malate is also highly bio-available and has properties to help combat upset stomach, cramping or water retention, making it a more popular choice for users over others supplements.

Disodium Creatine Phosphate – is another nutritional supplement used by those who are into body building. Disodium Creatine Phosphate is a high energy phosphate storage compound found in muscles and is slightly soluble in water. When creatine is taken, it is transformed into Creatine Phosphate; this Creatine Phosphate then reproduces ATP or energy inside the body. During strenuous workouts Creatine Phosphate is broken into two parts creatine and phosphate thus affecting the level of energy output by stimulating ATP. Creatine not only helps in regulating the energy but is also helpful in lowering Lactic Acid, accumulated in the muscles of those who are into heavy exercise. This lactic acid once accumulated gives a burning feeling when lifting or working out strenuously.

It is fair to say that many supplements come and go, but creatine is here to stay. It has demonstrated in study after study to do exactly what you want it to do—to make a bigger and stronger you.

Other Potential Benefits

I feel that it is important to mention that other than being used primarily for strength and energy it is also being tested in a much different direction, in clinical studies involving the nervous and muscular systems. One such organization taking action is Muscular Dystrophy Association and the MDA is currently looking into trial testing to see if creatine may give relief to humans suffering with the horrific disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). These supplements are very promising in other areas as well. We will keep you up-dated!