Creatine Monohydrate

Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial.

Lak M, Forbes SC, Ashtary-Larky D, Dadkhahfar S, Robati RM, Nezakati F · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025

Creatine is a widely used ergogenic aid that enhances muscle strength and lean mass. However, concerns have been raised about the potential role in promoting hair loss by increasing dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Currently, there is no direct evidence examining the relationship between creatine supplementation and hair follicle health. Therefore, the purpose was to determine the effects of 12 weeks of creatine supplementation on androgen levels and hair follicle health in healthy young males. Forty-five resistance-trained males (ages 18-40 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to either a creatine monohydrate (5 g/day) or placebo (5 g maltodextrin/day) group. Participants maintained their habitual diets and training routines. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks to measure total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHT. Hair follicle health was assessed using the Trichogram test and the FotoFinder system (hair density, follicular un

Six-Week Supplementation with Creatine in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Feasibility Study at 3 Tesla.

Godlewska BR, Sylvester AL, Emir UE, Sharpley AL, Clarke WT, Martens MAG · Nutrients · 2024

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic medical condition with no specific pharmacological treatment. Creatine, a nutrient essential for maintaining energy homeostasis in the cells, is a candidate for interventions in ME/CFS. Fourteen participants with ME/CFS received supplementation with 16 g creatine monohydrate for 6 weeks. Before starting creatine and on the last day of treatment, participants underwent brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) scanning of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), followed by symptom, cognition, and hand-grip strength assessments. Eleven participants completed the study. Creatine treatment increased creatine concentration in both the pgACC and DLPFC (p = 0.004 and 0.012, respectively), decreased fatigue and reaction time (RT) on congruent and incongruent trials of the Stroop test (p = 0.036 and 0.014, respectively), and increased hand-grip strength (p = 0.0004).

Creatine in women's health: bridging the gap from menstruation through pregnancy to menopause.

Smith-Ryan AE, DelBiondo GM, Brown AF, Kleiner SM, Tran NT, Ellery SJ · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025

Creatine supplementation in women has gained attention for its potential benefits beyond muscle growth, including reproductive health, cognitive health and aging. Women exhibit distinct physiological differences from men, influenced by hormonal fluctuations during pre-menopause, pregnancy, and menopause, and these factors should be considered for their influence on creatine metabolism. This review aims to provide a historical evaluation of creatine supplementation in women, its potential applications across female-specific life stages, recent research highlights, and targets for future research. The review also considers the impact of hormonal changes on creatine metabolism and effectiveness as a dietary supplementation. This is a narrative overview of historical and recent research evaluating the effects of creatine in women. Early studies demonstrated the benefits of creatine on exercise performance in women, though they often overlooked menstrual cycle variability. Recent researc

Influence of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Androgens and Global Hair Assessments

NCT04298840 · WITHDRAWN · WITHDRAWN

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on androgens and hair loss in free-living adult males. Participants will complete 6 months of supplementation of 5 grams per day of creatine monohydrate while following their normal lifestyle practices. At baseline and six months after study initiation, participants will complete laboratory assessments. These assessments will include a standard blood draw for evaluation of total testosterone (T), free T, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and DHT:T ratios in the blood, as well as global photography and questionnaires to evaluate hair loss. This study will examine the claim that creatine increases DHT concentrations and and DHT:T ratio, as well as provide novel data regarding whether creatine promotes hair loss.

Long-term Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Strength in Postmenopausal Women

n=237 · NCT02047864 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

Osteoporosis is an important health problem, costing the Canadian health care system over $2 billion per year. Loss of bone mineral and bone fragility is especially prevalent in postmenopausal women. Of all osteoporotic fractures, hip fractures are the most traumatic. Creatine monohydrate is a nutritional supplement that is often combined with strength training to increase strength and muscle mass. The investigators recently completed a pilot study in a small number of postmenopausal women (n=33) that showed that creatine monohydrate significantly improved hip bone mineral density during a 1-year resistance training program. In our current proposal the investigators want to determine whether creatine combined with strength training can have an even larger effect on bone mineral density at the hip if given over 2 years in a large group of postmenopausal women (n=240). The investigators also want to determine whether this leads to reduced fractures in these women for up to a year after completing the creatine and strength training program.