Is Creatine Safe For Children and Teenagers?

A commentary published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports nutrition 2007, detailing the International Society of Sports nutrition's position regarding creatine supplementation, discussed the safety of creatine use by children and teenagers.

The observed that opponents of creatine supplementation have claimed that it is not safe for children and adolescents, and while fewer investigations have been conducted in using younger participants, no study has shown creatine monohydrate to have adverse effects in children.

In fact, long-term creatine monohydrate supplementation (e.g., 4 - 8 grams/day for up to 3 years) has been used as an adjunctive therapy for a number of creatine synthesis deficiencies and neuromuscular disorders in children. Clinical trials are also being conducted in children with Duschenne muscular dystrophy.

However, as less is known about the effects of supplemental creatine on children and teenagers, it is the view of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) that younger athletes should consider a creatine supplement only if the following conditions are met:

1. The athlete is past puberty and is involved in serious/competitive training that may benefit from creatine supplementation;

2. The athlete is eating a well-balanced, performance-enhancing diet;

3. The athlete and his/her parents understand the truth concerning the effects of creatine supplementation;

4. The athlete's parents approve that their child takes supplemental creatine;

5. Creatine supplementation can be supervised by the athlete's parents, trainers, coaches, and/or physician;

6. Quality supplements are used; and,

7. The athlete does not exceed recommended dosages.

If these conditions are met, then it would seem reasonable that high school athletes should be able to take a creatine supplement. Doing so may actually provide a safe nutritional alternative to illegal anabolic steroids or other potentially harmful drugs.

On the other hand, if the above conditions are not met, then creatine supplementation may not be appropriate.

It appears that this is no different than teaching young athletes' proper training and dietary strategies to optimize performance. Creatine is not a panacea or short cut to athletic success. It can, however, offer some benefits to optimize training of athletes involved in intense exercise in a similar manner that ingesting a high-carbohydrate diet, sports drinks, and/or carbohydrate loading can optimize performance of an endurance athlete.

Some opponents of creatine supplementation have attempted to directly lump creatine in with anabolic steroids and/or banned stimulants and have called for a ban on the use of creatine monohydrate and other supplements among athletes.

In light of the research that has been conducted with creatine monohydrate, it appears that those who call for a ban on it are merely familiar with the anecdotal myths surrounding the supplement, and not the actual facts.

We see no difference between creatine supplementation and ethical methods of gaining athletic advantage such as using advanced training techniques and proper nutritional methods.

Reference:
Adapted from: Buford TW, Kreider RB, Stout JR, Greenwood M, Campbell B, Spano M, Ziegenfuss T, Lopez H, Landis J, Antonio J. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: creatine supplementation and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2007, 4:6 (30 August 2007). doi:10.1186/1550-2783-4-6. © 2007 Buford et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

For more articles on exercise visit healthnews.com/2007/10/health-fitness-exercise-nutrition.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Exercise tips and Health Benefits of Exercise.

Kevin Flatt is a Freelance Journalist specializing in Natural Medicine. He is also the publisher of Natural Health Remedies. If you are searching for information on improving your health with less drugs and more natural therapy, then this website is for you. http://www.kflatthealthnews.com.

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