Creatine is a commonly used supplement. The most widely studied form is creatine monohydrate. This increases the phosphocreatine in the muscle and helps replenish ATP, the energy currency of the muscle. Creatine has effects on the brain energy and can improve performance. It helps to improve muscle mass and increase sprint performance in athletes.
In healthy people, at recommended doses, it does not affect kidney function or liver function. In fact, creatine has been used to prevent muscle loss in people with cirrhosis and fatty liver disease. The creatine that is consumed is metabolised to creatinine and excreted via the kidneys. Hence, in healthy persons, it does not harm the kidneys or liver. However, in people with kidney disease, medical supervision should be sought if planning to use creatine. It is not studied in pregnancy.
Dr. Mathew John, MD, DM