Creatine is one of the most popular sports supplements available today. It is widely used by athletes and fitness enthusiasts to enhance performance and increase muscle mass. However, determining the optimal daily dosage can be confusing, as recommendations range from 2-5 grams per day. In this comprehensive guide, we will examine how creatine works, its benefits, optimal dosage protocols, and potential side effects to help you decide how much creatine to supplement with each day.
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a molecule produced naturally in the human body to supply energy to cells, primarily muscle cells. It is synthesized in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas from amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. Over 95% of the body’s creatine is stored in skeletal muscles as phosphocreatine, with the rest found in the brain, liver, kidneys, and testes.
Phosphocreatine acts as a rapid energy reserve, able to replenish ATP stores quickly during short, intense bursts of activity like weight lifting or sprints. Supplementing with creatine monohydrate, the most common supplemental form, increases levels of phosphocreatine in muscles allowing for enhanced power output, endurance, and strength.
Benefits of Creatine
Decades of research have confirmed several performance and physique enhancing benefits of creatine supplementation when combined with proper strength training:
- Increased muscle mass and lean body mass
- Greater gains in strength and power
- Enhanced muscular endurance and resistance to fatigue
- Increased anaerobic capacity
- Promotes greater training volume and quicker recovery between workouts
- Improved maximum power and performance in high-intensity activities
- Reduced levels of protein breakdown during exercise
- Hydration support during intense exercise
The boost in phosphocreatine from creatine supplementation can produce gains in strength and performance equivalent to several weeks or months of training. It does not act as a standalone builder of muscle, but significantly enhances the body’s response to resistance exercise.
Is Creatine Safe?
Numerous short and long-term studies have confirmed creatine’s safety profile when taken at recommended dosages. The majority of users tolerate creatine supplementation well with no serious side effects. However, there are some considerations:
- Weight gain is commonly reported due to creatine pulling water into muscles, but not an increase in body fat percentage.
- Minor GI discomfort, diarrhea or cramping may occur at higher doses.
- Dehydration becomes a greater risk if increased fluid intake does not accompany supplementation.
- Creatine use is not recommended for those under 18 years old unless advised by a doctor.
- Those with pre-existing kidney or liver disease should avoid creatine.
- Spacing out doses and cycling use may reduce potential side effects.
When taken responsibly by healthy adults at proper dosages, creatine is considered very safe and side effects are unlikely. But it remains important to stay well hydrated and notify your doctor of supplementation.
Loading vs Maintenance Phase
The standard creatine supplementation protocol utilizes two phases:
- Loading phase – A higher dosage (15-25g/day) split into 4-5 smaller daily doses for 5-7 days to rapidly saturate muscles.
- Maintenance phase – Followed by a lower sustaining dose (3-5g/day) for the duration of your regimen.
Cycling on and off creatine for 8-12 weeks at a time is common practice among seasoned lifters to maximize results. However, newer research indicates creatine loading may not be necessary. Steady daily supplementation around 5g per day can sufficiently raise muscular creatine content without the higher initial loading doses.
Loading Phase Dosage
Traditional creatine loading calls for ingesting 20g per day for 5-7 days divided into 4-5 smaller (5g) doses. This rapid spike in available creatine quickly supersaturates muscles to the maximum. For even faster saturation, some protocols suggest 25-30g per day.
However, loading with such high amounts may increase the risk of weight gain and side effects like cramping or diarrhea. Lower loading doses (10-15g/day) can still produce full results with fewer potential downsides.
Maintenance Phase Dosage
After loading up, a maintenance dose of 3-5g per day is shown to maintain elevated muscular creatine levels. Most stick to 5g to maximize continued benefits. This can be taken all at once or split into smaller doses of 1-2g throughout the day.
Cycling off creatine for 4 weeks or more before beginning another loading phase can help avoid building a tolerance. However, continuous daily use without cycling also appears effective.
When is the Best Time to Take Creatine?
While creatine can be taken at any time of day, research suggests there may be benefits to timing its supplementation:
- Pre-workout – Taking 5g of creatine around 30-60 minutes before training maximizes ATP availability during your workout.
- Post-workout – Ingesting 5g immediately after training along with your post-workout meal enhances recovery and new muscle growth.
- Morning dose – Taking 2-5g in the morning on an empty stomach further elevates creatine content in muscles.
- Before bed – A final 1-2g dose in the evening helps keep muscles saturated overnight.
Splitting doses between pre- and post-workout, morning and evening results in stable creatine levels. However, for convenience, taking the full 5g dose at any time of day will still provide ergogenic effects.
Creatine Dosage Recommendations
Here are evidence-based dosage recommendations for creatine supplementation:
Athletes/Bodybuilders
- Loading phase: 20-25g split into 4-5 daily doses for 5-7 days (example: 5g 4 times daily).
- Maintenance: 3-5g per day (example: 2g pre-workout, 2g post-workout).
- Cycle 8-12 weeks on creatine followed by 1 month off.
Fitness Enthusiasts
- Loading phase: 10-15g split into 2-3 daily doses for 5-7 days.
- Maintenance: 3-5g per day in 1-2 doses.
- Cycle 8-12 weeks on creatine followed by 2-4 weeks off.
Standard Dosage (No Loading)
- 3-5g creatine monohydrate powder per day.
- Consume anytime with food and stay well-hydrated.
Lower dosage regimens without a loading phase can reduce side effects and are equally effective long-term at elevating muscular creatine storage. However, power and strength athletes seeking every ounce of performance may still benefit from a brief loading phase.
Creatine Forms and Comparisons
While basic creatine monohydrate is the most proven over decades of research, several other forms have emerged claiming advantages:
Creatine Monohydrate
- Most studied, cost-effective form.
- Up to 30% is lost as creatinine.
- May cause mild GI discomfort.
Creatine Hydrochloride (HCL)
- Claims to dissolve better than monohydrate.
- Little evidence it outperforms monohydrate.
- Lower doses recommended to avoid GI side effects.
Creatine Ethyl Ester
- Theoretically more bioavailable than monohydrate.
- Studies show less stable and shorter lasting effects.
Buffered Creatine
- Formulated with buffers like magnesium or sodium bicarbonate.
- May reduce risk of cramping but less research on performance.
Liquid Creatine
- Dissolves easily but degrades faster.
- Requires larger doses with less stability.
While other forms show promise, creatine monohydrate remains the go-to with decades of safety and efficacy data. Newer forms may provide minor advantages but require further study.
Side Effects and Safety Concerns
When taken at recommended dosages, creatine is considered very safe with few side effects reported:
- Weight gain – Increased water drawn into muscles but not fat mass. Minimizing doses can reduce water retention.
- Dehydration – Increased risk if fluid intake is not increased accordingly. Drink plenty of water when supplementing.
- Digestive problems – Bloating, cramping, nausea or diarrhea may occur at higher doses. Lower/cycle doses if persistent.
- Kidney stress – No evidence in healthy individuals. Those with kidney disease should avoid creatine.
- Liver stress – No human evidence but high doses were shown to impair rat liver function.
Proper dosage, sufficient hydration intake, and cycling off creatine appears to minimize side effects. Those with pre-existing conditions like kidney or liver disease should avoid use.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I take creatine?
The most effective timing is taking creatine shortly before and after workouts on training days. On non-workout days, morning and evening are ideal times. However, you can take creatine at any time – the most important factor is sticking to the daily dosage recommendation.
2. Should I cycle on and off creatine?
Cycling creatine for 8-12 weeks on and at least 4 weeks off is common practice to maximize results long-term. However, newer evidence also shows taking creatine continuously can be effective when maintained at proper daily doses.
3. Is creatine bad for your kidneys or liver?
There is no evidence that creatine harms kidney or liver function in healthy individuals at recommended dosages. However, those with pre-existing kidney or liver conditions should avoid use as a precaution.
4. Does creatine cause water retention and bloating?
Creatine draws water into muscle cells, known as cell volumization, which can increase body weight. Lower doses (3-5g) minimize water retention. Staying properly hydrated helps reduce bloating or cramping.
5. Do you need to load creatine to see results?
While traditional loading doses saturate muscles faster, several months of steady low-dose supplementation (3-5g/day) provides similar effects without the quick water weight gain.
Conclusion
Supplementing with creatine has proven time and again to boost strength, power, muscle gains, and anaerobic capacity – especially when combined with proper resistance training. While advanced athletes may still benefit from a loading phase of 15-25g per day and a maintenance dose around 5g, continuous lower doses of 3-5g per day without loading are equally effective long term.
The convenience of going sans loading may be preferable for many looking to enhance workout performance and physique improvements. Spacing doses throughout the day – such as before and after workouts – appears most optimal. However, a single daily dose will still provide excellent results. 8-12 weeks on creatine followed by a brief off-cycle helps maximize its effects.
When used properly, creatine is one of the safest and most research-backed supplements available. However, appropriate hydration is vital to avoiding side effects like cramping or bloating. Those with pre-existing kidney or liver conditions should avoid creatine supplementation.