Why does creatine make muscles look bigger?
Changes in Human Muscle Transverse Relaxation Following Short‐Term Creatine Supplementation
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Creatine didn’t change intracellular pH or overall T₂ from MR imaging—despite clear changes in spectroscopy data.
Most assume creatine alters muscle acidity or general hydration; this study shows it only affects very specific water compartments, invisible to standard scans.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re starting creatine, expect to gain 1–2 kg in the first week—this is normal water weight, not fat or muscle.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Creatine didn’t change intracellular pH or overall T₂ from MR imaging—despite clear changes in spectroscopy data.
Most assume creatine alters muscle acidity or general hydration; this study shows it only affects very specific water compartments, invisible to standard scans.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re starting creatine, expect to gain 1–2 kg in the first week—this is normal water weight, not fat or muscle.
Publication
Journal
Experimental Physiology
Year
2002
Authors
G. Saab, G. Marsh, Mark A. Casselman, R. Thompson
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking 20 grams of creatine powder a day for 5 days can make you gain about 1.2 kg in weight and help your muscles store more energy, at least in people whose bodies respond well to creatine.
Some people who take creatine monohydrate supplements see a small increase in water inside their muscle cells, which shows up as a change in a special MRI scan — but only if their body actually responds to creatine.
Taking creatine supplements doesn’t change the acidity inside your muscle cells or the MRI signal from your muscles, even though other tests show something different.
Taking creatine supplements may help your muscles store more glycogen, which is like a sugar reservoir, and since glycogen holds onto water, your muscles end up holding more water too.