The Claim
Creatine supplementation increases urinary creatine and creatinine excretion in competitive swimmers, indicating systemic absorption and metabolism, and over 50% of ingested creatine is retained, indicating significant tissue uptake.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
When competitive swimmers take creatine supplements, more creatine and creatinine appear in their urine, showing the body absorbs and processes it, and more than half of the creatine taken in stays in the body's tissues.
See the scientific wording
Creatine supplementation increases urinary creatine and creatinine excretion in competitive swimmers, indicating systemic absorption and metabolism, but over 50% of ingested creatine is retained, suggesting significant tissue uptake.
When creatine is swallowed, it enters the bloodstream and moves into muscle cells, where it is stored and pulls water along with it. The extra water increases muscle volume, and the creatine is used to help make energy quickly during intense activity. The body cannot store all of it, so the excess is filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine as creatine and creatinine.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Effects of creatine supplementation on the performance and body composition of competitive swimmers.
When swimmers took creatine, their urine had more creatine and creatinine, meaning their bodies absorbed it. Since they also gained weight (mostly water) but didn’t get more muscle, the creatine must have been stored somewhere in their bodies instead of all being peed out.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.