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Is There a Physiologic Basis for Creatine Use in Children and Adolescents?
Abstract
The purported ergogenic benefits of creatine for the adult population have been well documented. In able-bodied children and adolescents, there is a paucity of data on creatine use and the purported ergogenic effects of creatine. Only 1 study to date has investigated the ergogenic properties of creatine in the adolescent population. The purpose of this review was to try to establish a rationale for creatine use in the child and adolescent population. The limited literature available in this area did not provide a strong enough rationale from either a physiologic or performance perspective for creatine supplementation in these populations. However, significantly more research is required before definitive conclusions can be made.
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“While the physiological rationale regarding an ergogenic benefit in adolescents is similar to that seen in adults [8], the lack of randomized controlled trials and clinical data supporting the safety of creatine supplementation protocols among adolescent populations has resulted in hesitation regarding its widespread recommendation by some practitioners.”
From Creatine Supplementation in Children and Adolescents (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
In the citing paper
“Unnithan et al. (88) eloquently described the physiological basis for creatine use in adolescents and came to the conclusion that in anaerobic athletes, there exists a metabolic rationale as to how and why creatine may provide an ergogenic benefit.”
From Safety of Creatine Supplementation in Active Adolescents and Youth: A Brief Review (2018) · cites this paper as [88]
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Metadata
- Authors
- UNNITHAN, V. B., VEEHOF, S. H. E., VELLA, C. A., & KERN, M.
- Affiliations
- Syracuse University (US)
- University of San Francisco (US)
- San Francisco State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
- Published
- 2001-11
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 524-528
- ISSN
- 1064-8011 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1993077130
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- San Francisco State University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Biochemical effects in animals
- Keywords
- creatine supplementation, children, adolescents, ergogenic aids, performance improvement, exercise performance
- MeSH terms
- Contraindications, Adaptation, Physiological, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child Development, Creatine, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Physical Education and Training, Sports, Task Performance and Analysis, Anaerobic Threshold, Muscle, Skeletal, Dietary Supplements
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