The Creatine Craze: Benefits and Myths of Creatine with Dr. Darren Candow
Dec 20, 2023
49:09
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Dr. Darren Candow, a professor and director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory, discusses the surge in popularity of creatine, its benefits for the brain, sleep, and bone health, and debunks myths about its use. The podcast also covers the safety of creatine, its potential for anti-aging, and the importance of evidence-based research. Dr. Candow shares his current research interests in creatine's effects on aging and cognitive performance.
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Quick takeaways
Creatine supplementation has been found to improve exercise performance, muscle strength, and may have potential benefits for bone health and cognitive function.
Contrary to popular belief, creatine does not cause baldness, kidney or liver damage, increase fat mass, and has a positive safety profile when taken at recommended dosages.
Deep dives
Creatine's role and benefits in the body
Creatine plays a key role in high-energy metabolism, helping to maintain ATP levels in cells. Supplementing with creatine has been shown to improve exercise performance and muscle strength. It may also have benefits for bone health, especially in post-menopausal women. Creatine has been found to be safe and effective at recommended dosages and does not have detrimental effects on kidney or liver function. Timing of creatine intake is not critical, but taking it before or after exercise may enhance its benefits.
Natural ways to get creatine and the benefits of supplementation
The body naturally produces creatine in the liver and brain. It can also be obtained through diet, primarily from animal-based flesh (e.g., red meat, seafood) and to a lesser extent from dairy products. Vegans and vegetarians may consider supplementation to ensure sufficient creatine intake. Supplementation with creatine has been shown to enhance muscle growth, strength, and endurance, particularly when combined with exercise. It may also have potential benefits for bone health, cognitive function, and sleep deprivation recovery.
Addressing myths and misconceptions about creatine
Contrary to popular belief, creatine does not cause baldness, kidney or liver damage, or increase fat mass. It is not a steroid and can be safely used by both males and females. Creatine has a positive safety profile when taken at recommended dosages and does not have significant side effects. Some common misconceptions also include concerns about water retention and bloating, but these effects are minimal and transient. Timing of creatine intake has not been shown to be critical, although taking it before or after exercise may enhance its effects.
Emerging research areas and future studies
Emerging research is exploring the potential benefits of creatine for various health conditions and populations. Areas of interest include its effects on bone health in post-menopausal women, its potential role in aiding recovery from concussions and traumatic brain injury, and its impact on cognitive performance in young individuals. Future studies will also investigate the effects of creatine for older adults and consider the timing of supplementation. Overall, there is ongoing research to further understand and uncover the full extent of creatine's benefits and applications.
On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by Dr. Darren Candow. Darren is the Professor and Director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina, Canada. Kristen and Darren will discuss creatine’s surge in popularity (3:00), creatine’s role within the body (4:48), the best ways to produce creatine (5:56), the benefits of creatine (8:16), the safety aspect of creatine (19:25), kids using creatine (21:15), benefits for the brain and sleep (23:42), bone health (33:00), topical creatine and anti-aging (36:54), the biggest myths about creatine (40:30), if the timing of creatine matters (43:37), and what Darren is obsessing over (47:14).