It may seem like creatine is everywhere, with podcasters, wellness influencers and maybe even your neighbour promoting products. In fact, the creatine market is projected to increase in the U.S. and Canada.
The supplement, favoured by some weightlifters and sprinters, is now touted for healthy aging such as memory and cognitive issues during perimenopause and menopause. But the evidence on that isn't solid, doctors say.
If you're already taking creatine or considering doing so, here are some factors to weigh on who might benefit, what's less clear, as well as the safety of the product.
What is creatine and what does it do in the body?
Creatine is a nitrogen-containing compound that people can get from their diet by eating meat and fish. Since creatine is not found in plants, scientists say vegetarians and vegans may benefit from supplements, most of which are synthesized without extracting from animals.
Animals, including humans, store creatine mainly in muscle. The liver and kidneys also synthesize creatine when we get enough amino acid building blocks through diet, such as by eating oily fish like herring.
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