At least with regards to a few of the wrestling stories. I know there have probably been more than these but when 3 died within a few months of each other if I recall around 2000/2001 or so, the USA today had it on their front page. Months later, when the story was made more clear it was determined that of at least of two of the wrestlers, one had never taken creatine and another one had not taken it for approx. 6 months prior to his death. So in those cases it was later felt that creatine could not in any way be blamed at all for their deaths. The third one I don’t recall hearing anything more about.
What I believe was determined for each, though (IIRC) was that each had engaged in what most would consider extreme weightloss methods and had allowed themselves to become severely dehydrated and this is what likely did them in.
Of course when this was disclosed some time later, instead of making the front page of the USA today as the initial story did, it was buried somewhere deep in the sports section-maybe on the back page.
I think there might have been a more recent wrestling story as well though I’m unfamiliar with those details.
It is a sport that has at least in the past often had participants who engaged in extremely dangerous weightloss methods which often involved poor hydration/re-hydration practices but creatine consumption is often what the wrestling related fatalities are attributed to.
can you provide some substance to these 2500 cases and 79 deaths? The article only mentioned the wrestlers as known deaths- and that has already been questioned.
I, too, would love to see some documentation proving that creatine caused these deaths and all of those purported side effects.
I have always felt that there is no way man would have continued to exist if creatine were such a health hazard. This given the suggested regular consumption amounts of various animal protein sources that our ancestors were said to have engaged in.
Can it, like so many other foods/supplements, be taken to the extreme to cause problems? Of course.
I seen nothing in that link to provide any proof of the “2500 cases of side effects and 79 deaths that have been documented.” Where are all of these studies available?
Much of the material from that link appears to provide only conjecture/guesses.
I didn’t write the article, simply posted it, thought some would have a larf.
I have used creatine as well as coach athletes who have used it, we all got stronger and looked more athletic, unfortunately no one improved by any great amount so no longer use it.
If I was asked for the best way to describe it I would call it male makeup, makes you look good and will not smudge with sweat or on rainy days.
It probably meant you lose the strength you gained while on it when you stop taking it.
Im not positive, but I don’t think that happened to me. If anything, going off of it may make your next gains more difficult, making you become a little dependent on it.
Creatine has never been directly implicated in any deaths of healthy individuals. Go on pub med and follow peer reviewed studies, not some anecdotal crap on the web. I remember the one wrestler dying(U of M) and they tried to say it was creatine in the press. They never mentioned that the kid did extensive cutting in rubber suits in a sauna. He died of cardiac arrest likely from electrolyte imbalance. I think whey protein or BCAA along with some form of carbohydrate(dextrose, maltodextrin, or vitargo being preferred choices) are imperative post workout if you want to recover quicker. I do think many athletes over eat protein. Most well fed athletes(carbs, fats, and calories) don’t need to over indilge protein due to fat and carb being protein sparing. In times of carb and calorie restriction, upping protein is necessary. For your dad, go on pub med and you will see hundreds of university based, peer reviewed studies talking about decreased DOMS and enhanced recovery. Good luck.
it is irrefutable that creatine works. i think creatine is the most beneficial supplement to enhance speed and power based on firsthand experience. and about the false gains, i’ve never lost gains that i made on creatine once i stopped taking it.
I don’t see a problem with a 15 year old taking creatine. Make sure you know what you are doing. Drink plenty of water and don’t abuse it.
I started taking creatine in eighth grade when I was 14 years old so I don’t see a problem with you taking it. But don’t think that it will magically make you stronger. It helps you by giving you a greater ability to train. It doesn’t help you on its own. With out the extra training that it will allow you to do, you won’t have greater gains than you would have without taking it.
I noticed immediate gains when I started taking it. My bench went up 10 pounds in a week. I feel like creatine has allowed me to make more consistent progress over the years. I used it all of my ninth grade year when I was 15 and my bench went from 185 to 265. I’m not saying that was all because of creatine, but it definitely helped…I took it all year.
False gains would mean you gained something that you wouldn’t have gained without using creatine. It also means that once you quit taking creatine you won’t be able to do what you could while you were taking it. I disagree with the second statement.
