Does Creatine Affect Hormones?

Based on research, creatine supplementation does not significantly affect certain hormones like growth hormone and cortisol.

Understanding Creatine and its Potential Hormonal Impact

Creatine is a popular supplement known for its ability to increase muscle mass and strength. The fact that creatine supplementation results in a rapid increase in body mass and fat-free mass has led to speculation that it might work through hormonal changes. This speculation is especially centered around anabolic hormones that promote muscle growth.

Hormonal Response to Creatine Supplementation

The research investigated specifically how creatine supplementation impacts key hormones involved in muscle growth and stress:

• Growth Hormone: Growth hormone is crucial for muscle growth and repair.
• Cortisol: Cortisol is a stress hormone that can inhibit muscle growth.

Findings on Growth Hormone and Cortisol

According to the provided research, no significant effects of creatine supplementation on growth hormone and cortisol responses were found. This indicates that creatine's effects on muscle growth are likely not directly mediated through changes in these hormones.

Other Potential Mechanisms

While creatine might not work by directly affecting growth hormone and cortisol, it does promote muscle growth through other mechanisms:

• Increased Energy Availability: Creatine increases the availability of ATP (the cellular energy currency), allowing for more intense workouts.
• Cellular Hydration: Creatine can increase water content in muscle cells, which can lead to hypertrophy (muscle growth).

Table: Hormonal Impact of Creatine

Conclusion

In summary, while creatine plays a role in muscle growth and body composition changes, scientific evidence suggests it does not achieve these changes via an increase in growth hormone or decrease in cortisol levels.