The Study
Acute influence of mixed creatine hydrochloride and caffeine supplementation on serum levels of testosterone and cortisol, repetition sustainability and resistance exercise volume
This study watched what happened when 12 athletes took different supplements before working out. It saw that one combo made them do a few more reps, but it didn't prove the supplements caused that — maybe they just felt luckier that day. So we can only say the supplement and the extra reps happened together, not that one made the other happen.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested if taking creatine and caffeine together helps people lift more weights without changing their stress or sex hormones.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 539 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The increase in lifting volume is real but modest—likely helpful for athletes seeking small performance gains without hormonal side effects.
- 2People lifted more total weight when they took creatine and caffeine together than when they took nothing, but their hormone levels didn't change.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Sport Sciences for Health
Year
2026
Authors
Masoud Ramezanzadeh, H. Arazi, Payam Saidie
Related Content
Claims (2)
Taking creatine at normal doses does not increase DHT levels or cause hair loss due to genetic sensitivity in healthy people.
In trained young men, taking creatine hydrochloride and caffeine together before a workout increases the total amount of weight lifted during chest and leg presses at 60% of their one-rep maximum, compared to a placebo, without changing blood levels of testosterone or cortisol.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.