Long-term oral creatine supplementation does not impair renal function in healthy athletes.
OBJECTIVE
Oral creatine supplementation is widely used in sportsmen and women. Side effects have been postulated, but no thorough investigations have been conducted to support these assertions. It is important to know whether long-term oral creatine supplementation has any detrimental effects on kidney function in healthy population.


METHODS
Creatinine, urea, and plasma albumin clearances have been determined in oral creatine consumers (10 months to 5 yr) and in a control group.


RESULTS
There were no statistical differences between the control group and the creatine consumer group for plasma contents and urine excretion rates for creatinine, urea, and albumin. Clearance of these compounds did not differ between the two groups. Thus, glomerular filtration rate, tubular reabsorption, and glomerular membrane permeability were normal in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither short-term, medium-term, nor long-term oral creatine supplements induce detrimental effects on the kidney of healthy individuals.
Poortmans
J R
JR
Chimie Physiologique, Institut Supérieur d'Education Physique et de Kinésithérapie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. jrpoortm@ulb.ac.be
Francaux
M
M
D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D003401:Creatine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology
D003401:Creatine