Creatine 2 Essay, Research Paper

Creatine

Creatine is a substance that is used in athletics; it has both good and horrible effects. The effects of Creatine might include faster development of the muscles in your body, but the side effects can be drastic and are said to be extremely dangerous. Yet this product is still legal? Why? Who knows, but the point is clear that this can hurt the body. This substance isn’t even FDA approved and they are even saying it is still in the experimental stage, yet thousands of people around the globe are using this “Creatine”, and no one has a clue about what could happen to their body.

Some side effects of Creatine include muscle tears and pulls, liver and kidney damage, constriction of the blood vessels around the heart, pancretitis, and asthma.

Muscle tears and pulls are said to be linked to Creatine when used in physical activity. Reasons for pulls and tears are the fast growth of the muscles. This can cause muscles to be tighter than usual causing pulls and tears.

Liver and kidney damage are caused by Creatine increasing the amount of ATP (adenosine tryphosphate) that is used for energy, made by the kidneys, which can cause the kidneys to stop producing ATP because of an overload of ATP being made from the Creatine. This can result in kidney or liver failure.

Constriction of the blood vessels occurs when you use Creatine and work out for extended amounts of time. This can cause major constriction of the vessels around the heart causing abnormal heart rates and heart attacks.

Pancretitis is another side effect where the pancreas stops working and fails. Creatine is said to be directly related to pancretitis if it is being used when it occurs.

Asthma is said to be directly related to some types of Creatine if they are used to do certain exercises. Some experts (pulmonary specialists) have also come to the conclusion that Creatine can cause asthma because of the pressure on the lungs to work harder than ever before because of the extra energy released from Creatine.

All of my references were found on the Internet. At www.nutritionalsupplements.com I found valid information on the side effects of Creatine. Another reference I found was www.gnc.com where more information was on only a specific type of Creatine, Creatine Monohydrate.

Athletes around the world are using Creatine unaware of how they can hurt themselves physically (asthma/muscle pulls and tears) and internally (kidney damage/liver damage/constriction of blood vessels/pancretitis). Just in the last year in two separate incidents two people have died in sport activities. Both of these people were on Creatine and the autopsy led some specialists to believe it was because of Creatine. Now, I’m sorry, but to be able to bench more weight doesn’t come close to someone’s life.