Dietary creatine supplementation does not affect some haematological indices, or indices of muscle damage and hepatic and renal function
Open accessAbstract
Background—The use of creatine (Cr) as a nutritional supplement to aid athletic performance has gained widespread popularity among athletes. However, concerns have recently been expressed over potentially harmful effects of short and long term Cr supplementation on health. Methods—Forty eight young healthy subjects were randomly allocated to three experimental protocols aimed at elucidating any potential health risks associated with five days (20 g/day) to nine weeks (3 g/day) of Cr supplementation. Venous blood samples were collected before and after periods of Cr supplementation and were analysed for some haematological indices, and for indices of hepatic, muscular, and renal dysfunction. Findings—All measured indices were well within their respective normal range at all times. Serum creatinine concentration tended to be increased the day after Cr supplementation. However, values had returned to baseline six weeks after the cessation of supplementation. These increases were probably attributable to increased creatinine production rather than renal dysfunction. No indication of impairment to the haematological indices measured, hepatic function, or muscle damage was apparent after Cr supplementation. Interpretation—These data provide evidence that there are no obvious adverse effects of acute or more chronic Cr supplementation on the haematological indices measured, nor on hepatic, muscle, and renal function. Therefore there is no apparent health risk associated with Cr supplementation to healthy people when it is ingested in quantities that have been scientifically proven to increase muscle Cr stores.
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The literature has not provided support that creatine promotes renal dysfunction.
“Nor has the literature provided any support that creatine promotes renal dysfunction [22, 51, 85, 114, 156, 172, 243–248]”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine (2017) · cites this paper as [244]
The paper's introductory passage says that concerns about creatine and renal dysfunction lacked scientific evidence, and its Additional information section reports no adverse effects on the renal indices it measured. But the introduction expressly excepts two published case reports of renal dysfunction accompanying supplementation, so the claim that the literature provided no support at all is too absolute. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPerformance-related studies in adolescents, younger individuals, and older populations have consistently reported ergogenic benefits with no clinically significant side effects.
“Performance-related studies in adolescents, younger individuals, and older populations have consistently reported ergogenic benefits with no clinically significant side effects [5, 6, 22, 23, 53, 113, 129, 244, 245, 268].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine (2017) · cites this paper as [244]
The Discussion (page unavailable) reports no clinically significant changes in the measured health indices after creatine supplementation in young healthy adults. The paper also cites earlier studies reporting performance benefits, but it did not measure performance or study adolescents or older adults. It therefore supports the safety finding for its participants, not the full claim across age groups. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNo significant changes in GFR were observed, suggesting preserved kidney function.
“No significant changes were observed in GFR, suggesting preserved kidney function.”
From Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [31]
The Sampling Protocol lists serum sodium, potassium, urea, and creatinine as the renal-function measures; it does not list GFR. The Discussion concludes that there were no clinically significant changes in the renal-function indices measured, supporting the general kidney-function inference but not the specific claim that GFR showed no significant change. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Robinson, T. M., Sewell, D. A., Casey, A., Steenge, G., & Greenhaff, P. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Greenhaff, Paul L
- Venue
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2000-08
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 284-288
- ISSN
- 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0480
- PMC
- PMC1724224
- OpenAlex
- W2156734439
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biochemical effects in animals
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- creatine supplementation, dietary creatine, hematological parameters, muscle damage, liver function, renal function, serum creatinine, creatine kinase, health risks of supplements, athletes
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood, Blood Chemical Analysis, Creatine, Female, Humans, Kidney, Liver, Male, Muscle, Skeletal, Dietary Supplements
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