Creatine is a chemical that is naturally produced by the human body. It is produced in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids L-arginine, L-methionine, and glycine. Nearly 95% of all the body's supply is contained in the skeletal muscle. Although I can be found in fish and meat, it is a popular supplement among athletes because once changed into phosphocreatine it is stored in the muscles and then used for energy. Bodybuilders especially love it because during short intense burst of exercise, such as weight lifting, phosphocreatine turns into ATP, which is what our bodies use for fuel.

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Creatine was first identified in 1832, but it did not rise as a popular supplement until the early 1990's. That was when they discovered it was safe to use for naturally and legally boosting athletic performance while increasing lean muscle mass. This supplement has such huge appeal with bodybuilders and other athletes that annual sales of the product have reportedly been between $100 and $200 million.

Creatine is also extremely popular among professional athletes. According to published reports, half of all professional football players and at least a quarter of all professional baseball players use it. It is also unbelievably popular with bodybuilders because it stimulates muscle growth and boosts muscle mass. Pro athletes such Troy Aikman, Sammy Sosa, and John Elway have publicly endorsed this supplement and claimed it to be an important factor their athletic achievements.

The use of Creatine use in adolescent athletes, who are anxious to increase their lean muscle mass quickly and improve their performance, has significantly increased. However, they are also the age group that is most likely to not take it in the amounts recommended by scientific findings. Surveys show that adolescents exceed both loading, as well as, maintenance dosages to achieve the results they desire more quickly. This is troublesome because, although generally safe, high doses can have serious side effect including kidney damage.

Professional sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the International Olympic Committee all allow the use of creatine. However, in 2000 colleges and universities were prohibited by NCAA from distributing it or paying for it using school money. They will not ban the use of creatine without scientific proof.

Some questions still remain. This is because not all of the clinical research agrees about the benefits you receive from using it. The variations in the benefits, however, may be due to things such as carbohydrate intake, muscle fiber type, amount of physical activity, and fitness level. For example, one scientific study found that boosting the intake of carbohydrates will also increased the muscle's ability to absorb phosphocreatine.

Touted by professional athletes and sports enthusiasts from all over the world, this supplement has been a rising in popularity for almost twenty years. Some may still question the benefits of creatine, but for others the verdict is clear. Creatine is clearly the answer!