The Study
Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial
This study gave one group of guys creatine and another group fake pills, then checked their hair and hormones after 12 weeks. It found no difference between the groups, so we can say creatine probably doesn’t cause hair loss in these guys—but it doesn’t prove it won’t affect anyone else.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Some people think taking creatine for muscles might also make your hair fall out by increasing a hormone called DHT. This study tested that idea.
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 575 / 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.
- 1No, creatine didn't cause any measurable hair loss or hormonal changes that could lead to balding in healthy young men who train.
- 2After 12 weeks of taking 5g of creatine daily, DHT levels didn't go up, hair didn't thin, and follicles didn't shrink — same as the placebo group.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Year
2025
Authors
Mohammadyasin Lak, Scott C. Forbes, D. Ashtary-Larky, S. Dadkhahfar, R. Robati, Farshid Nezakati, Makan Khajevandi, Sara Naseri, Arvin Gerafiani, Neda Haghighat, Jose Antonio, G. Tinsley
Related Content
Claims (7)
Supplementing with creatine increases serum DHT levels, but this increase does not consistently lead to hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia.
Daily supplementation with 5 grams of creatine for 12 weeks did not change hair follicle density, the proportion of thick or fine hairs, the number of hair units, or total hair thickness in healthy young men who train with weights.
Taking 5 grams of creatine daily for 12 weeks does not change the level of dihydrotestosterone in the blood of healthy young men who train with weights.
In healthy young men who lift weights, total testosterone rose and free testosterone fell over 12 weeks, regardless of whether they took creatine, suggesting that seasonal changes or training adaptations had a stronger effect on these hormones than creatine.
Taking 5 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 12 weeks does not change levels of dihydrotestosterone in the blood or affect hair follicle density, thickness, or growth cycle in healthy young men who lift weights.
Taking 5 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 12 weeks does not change levels of testosterone or creatinine in healthy young men who lift weights.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.