The Study
Carbohydrate ingestion augments creatine retention during creatine feeding in humans.
This study found that when people ate carbs with creatine, their bodies kept more creatine than when they took creatine alone. But we can't say the carbs definitely caused it — maybe something else was different.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
When guys took creatine with a lot of sugar, their bodies held onto more creatine and made more insulin. Adding exercise didn't help any more.
Where does this study sit?
Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control
Max 58Cross-Sectional
Max 44Case Reports & Series
Max 30Expert Opinion
Max 532 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — more creatine staying in the body could mean better muscle effects, but only if the body absorbs it better.
- 293g sugar + 5g creatine → less creatine in urine, more in blood, higher insulin.
- 3Exercise before didn't change anything.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Acta physiologica Scandinavica
Year
1996
Authors
A. L. Green, Elizabeth J. Simpson, J. Littlewood, Ian A. Macdonald, P. Greenhaff
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.