title: 28 days of creatine nitrate supplementation is apparently safe in healthy individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Creatine monohydrate has become a very popular nutritional supplement for its ergogenic effects. The safety of creatine monohydrate has previously been confirmed. However with each novel form of creatine that emerges, its safety must be verified. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the safety of a novel form of creatine, creatine nitrate (CN), over a 28 day period.
  
  
  METHODS
  58 young males and females (Pooled: 24.3 ± 3.9 years, 144.9 ± 8.0 cm, 74.2 ± 13.0 kg) participated in this study across two laboratories. Subjects were equally and randomly assigned to consume either 1 g (n = 18) or 2 g (n = 20) of CN or remained unsupplemented (n = 20). Blood draws for full safety panels were conducted by a trained phlebotomist prior to and at the conclusion of the supplementation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pooled data from both laboratories revealed significant group x time interactions for absolute lymphocytes and absolute monocytes (p < 0.05). Analysis of the 1 g treatment revealed lab x time differences for red blood cell distribution width, platelets, absolute monocytes, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN):creatinine, sodium, protein, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05). Analysis of the 2 g treatment revealed lab x time differences for BUN:creatinine and ALT (p < 0.05). BUN and BUN:creatinine increased beyond the clinical reference range for the 2 g treatment of Lab 2, but BUN did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, CN appears to be safe in both 1 g and 2 g servings daily for up to a 28 day period. While those with previously elevated BUN levels may see additional increases resulting in post-supplementation values slightly beyond normal physiological range, these results have minor clinical significance and are not cause for concern. Otherwise, all hematological safety markers remained within normal range, suggesting that CN supplementation has no adverse effects in daily doses up to 2 g over 28 days and may be an alternative to creatine monohydrate supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL USA ; MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Jordan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.affiliation: MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.affiliation: MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Matt M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mosman
authors.affiliation: MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Roxanne M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Chih-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choate
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO USA.
authors.forename: Dylan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kimber
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL USA.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ormes
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL USA.
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: MusclePharm Sports Science Institute, MusclePharm Corp., Denver, CO USA ; Department of Sports Exercise Science, United States Sports Academy, Daphne, AL USA.
authors.forename: Jordan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Moon
keywords: Creatine; Health; Hematology; Immune system; Immunity; Nitrate; Safety