Creatine More is not better!

[ramsdell]

I was recently reading an article in my anatomy book about creatine and found this very interesting. Many studys have show that creatine is not harmful but how many of them put over use into the research. Source: Nutrition and the Athlete. Hole's Human Anatomy and Physiology. 2004, Issue 10, Page 722 ISBN# 0-07-243890-8

Becaue this book has a copy right I am unable to post the entire article, but I will summerize the main points.

Many athletes think that creatine is a safe alternative to steroids for bulking up, but taken in excess, it actually destroys muscles.
Creatine provides energy to mucscle cells by producing ATP. Taking too much creatine can disturb the distribution of water in tissues as a 24 year old weight lifter painfully learned. He awoke one morning with extreme pain in his thighs that forced him to go to the hospital, where he past blood and protein in his urine. His breathing became labored and he rapidly developed an enlarged heart and lungs. Water was rushing into his skeletal muscle cells, causing swelling in vital organs.
He was not geting bigger, but breaking down muscle, from a condition called rhabdomyolysis*. He greatly exceeded the recommended dose schedule thinking that more is better. He was taking large amounts for more than a year. With many months of physical therapy he recovered.
The Food and Drug Administration has received many adverse event reports of muscle cramps, seizures, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle strains, and dehydration associated with creatine use. Also, in 1997 three college wrestlers dies from dehydration associated with using creatine.

I am just posting this for info. This is the first evidece I have really found on the down side to taking creatine. Just remember, there are recommendations on supplements for a reason.



Info on rhabdomyolysis
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic508.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000473.htm