wise athletes podcast #160 | Whole Body Creatine | Mark Faulkner
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About the guest:
Mark Faulkner, President & Founder of Vireo Systems. After graduating college with a degree in physics, accompanied by a heavy emphasis on biochemistry and research, Mark began his career in the “business of science” at one of the largest publicly traded multinational diagnostics, pharma, and medical device businesses. Mark later co-founded a forensic toxicology and healthcare laboratory that provides science-driven drug testing, post-mortem, and consulting services. Based on that experience, Mark founded Vireo System to manufacture CON-CRET, the only US manufacturer of creatine to provide athletes and everyone else high quality creatine formulations.
Episode summary:
Creatine is no longer just for muscle building or improving power; creatine makes cells everywhere in the body more efficient at making energy. Creatine is now at the top of my supplement list, but I've been taking it incorrectly for 30 years. Check out my conversation with Mark Faulkner, Founder & CEO of the only US manufacturer of creatine. We discuss how creatine helps the muscles, brain, bones, immune system and more, how to dose, what to mix creatine powder with to improve absorption, and much more.
Discussion points:
- What is creatine? Arginine, Glycine, Methionine in a chemical structure.
- How does it help so many aspects of health? The body makes creatine so it is expecting it. More than we can make or eat can be used.
- How to dose and take creatine to get the benefits desired? The key is solubility via chemical make-up or via temperature of mixing liquid.
- What are the various types of creatine....why not just use the regular variety (monohydrate)? Consider, gut issues / bioavailability (do you have stomach upset?) vs cost (modesty higher expense for higher solubility and US/European manufacture)
- Considerations for quality? Testing certifications. Country of origin.
## Creatine's Role in Energy Efficiency and Oxidative Stress
Creatine does make cells more efficient at energy production, particularly during high-intensity activities, while also potentially reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation through several mechanisms:
1. **Energy buffer system improvement**
- Creates a rapid ATP regeneration pathway independent of oxygen
- Reduces the demand on other energy systems (glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation) during intense efforts
- This metabolic efficiency means less byproduct formation per unit of work
2. **Mitochondrial protection**
- Recent research suggests creatine helps stabilize mitochondrial membranes
- May improve mitochondrial function and reduce electron leakage (a major source of ROS)
- Can potentially increase mitochondrial efficiency, reducing the oxygen required for ATP production
3. **Direct antioxidant properties**
- Some studies indicate creatine has mild direct free radical scavenging abilities
- May help neutralize certain ROS, though this is not its primary mechanism
4. **Anti-inflammatory effects**
- By reducing cellular stress and improving energy efficiency, there's less metabolic disruption
- Less disruption means reduced inflammatory signaling cascade activation
- Studies show decreased inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-6 with creatine supplementation
5. **Enhanced cell membrane stability**
- The cell volumization effect may help maintain membrane integrity during stress
- More stable membranes are less susceptible to oxidative damage The combined result is a cellular environment that can produce energy more efficiently while experiencing less oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation, especially during high-intensity exercise or metabolic challenge
Related episodes & links:
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/5/1035
- https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2024/04/08/CON-CRET-stands-behind-creatine-HCL-gummies/
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*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.