Creatine

Creatine

Creatine: Effects as a Supplement and for Athletic Performance
Chad L. Dorsey
                                          Shepherd University

Introduction
There is a lot of controversy on nutritional supplements and performance/health claims that go along with them. Many claims come and go without a lot of hassle, but none has generated the commotion of the interest or debate surrounding creatine (Cr). Many people believe Cr is another weight gaining powder or steroid alternative (Plisk and Kreider, 1999). What those people do not know is Cr is also found in the human body naturally as opposed to supplementation.
Individuals know the name creatine but may not understand the science behind it. The use of Cr has become very widespread, usually in the supplement form Cr monohydrate. Every since the discovery of the ability to increase Cr and phosphocreatine (PCr) inside the human muscles by oral ingestion of supplemental Cr has led to many studies showcasing the benefits of exercise performance. Cr monohydrate supplementation shows significant results to increase the human body’s ability to maintain power output during high-intensity exercise and increase the rate of PCr to resynthesis during the recovery phase of intermittent high intensity exercise (Volek and Kraemer, 1996). My goal is to provide significant information on natural Cr functions, Cr as a supplement, ways the human body utilize Cr to enhance athletic performance, and how society views/uses Cr.
Effects of Creatine in the Human Body
Creatine was discovered by a French scientist named Chevreul in 1832 but it was not until 1847 did another scientist Lieberg discover that Cr in the body was directly involved in producing muscle work. Cr can be found naturally in foods like: beef, pork, and some types of fish (Grande and Graves, 2005). To understand the process of which Cr goes through the body can be complex.   As previously stated Cr is present in meat, fish, and poultry, from there it is...