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Creatine Answers for ALS - by Dr. Lynn Myers

What is creatine?
Creatine is a protein made from amino acids. Our body produces about one gram each day in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish. If you don't eat enough protein you may have lower creatine levels. Studies have suggested that people with neuromuscular diseases have lower creatine levels.

What does creatine do in the cell?
Creatine stores energy that you get from food. Some of the creatine forms creatine phosphate, an energy source for nerve cells. When you take extra creatine, more energy is avalable for immediate energy needs.

Do you take creatine?
Yes, I take creatine. It helps keep my weight down by keeping my muscle size up. More muscle keeps my metabolic rate high so that I use more calories.

Doctor, if you had ALS or another neurodegenerative disease would you take creatine?
Absolutely! I think creatine is a very promising substance that certainly merits consideration by every person with ALS and other disorders such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, the loss of muscle that occurs with age, obesity, muscle weakness associated with Congestive Heart Failure and even Multiple Sclerosis.

However, I am not your personal physician and do not make medical recommendations. You should consult your physician before making medical decisions. Keep in mind that creatine research is just now attracting the attention of large numbers of medical scientists. My guess is that we are going to hear a lot of exciting things about creatine in the next few years.

What is the correct creatine dosage?
Companies that make creatine powder suggest "loading" 15-20 grams per day for a week. Then the dose can be reduced to a maintenance dose of 5 grams per day. The idea is to make sure that people get more than enough creatine to make a difference in every day activities or athletic performance.

However, these high doses do not translate into higher creatine levels in your muscle. Later studies showed that a "loading" dose is unnecessary and may cause some side effects.

How may creatine slow the progression of ALS?
One idea is that creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells. This helps prevent the loss of mitochondria and its resultant damage to the nerve cell. The second idea is that creatine may have a direct effect on mitochondria which are necessary for the health and survival of the nerve cell. The bottom line is the more energy a cell has, the more it can protect itself from injury and premature death.

Earlier you mentioned possible side effects?
Despite many positive results, some people report stomach aches, diarrhea, increased urination and muscle cramps. These are probably caused by two things. When high doses of powder enter the stomach, they draw water from the body, causing the intestine to cramp. Secondly, some people take large doses of creatine powder, thinking that if a little bit was good then a lot would be better. I suggest a dosage of 3 to 5 grams per day using a product such as the creatine chewing gum or a chewable creatine tablet. People using these products and dosage have not reported any of the above side effects.

Is creatine safe?
Creatine has been used for at least ten years in the United States, and Russia has used creatine well before then. No controlled studies have shown serious side effects. In times past, heavy meat eaters such as the Plains Indians, African Tribal People, and Eskimos have all eaten high concentrations of creatine in their meat over long periods of time, without any known ill effects.

Where is creatine made?
There are three primary manufacturing sources of creatine powder: China, Europe, and the United States. Companies buy creatine from one of these sources, package it, mix it with other ingredients and make it into a product and then finally market it in various ways to the public. I recommend buying U.S. or German creatine because of their strict manufacturing standards.

Poor manufacturing standards may result in toxic contamination. My advice is to stick with companies that have very high professional standards. It will cost you more, but it is well worth it.

Is there a way to take creatine that can help overcome the creatine delivery problems you describe?
Yes, there are two products that I like. The first is a chewable creatine tablet called Creatine Power Tabs. It tastes like a grape sweet tart and is very easy to chew up and swallow.

The Tabs give you an exact dose of creatine so you don't have to worry about mixing or measuring. It also allows the creatine to beging being absorbed right in the mouth. This bypasses the stomach acid which can destroy up to 60% of the creatine.

Creatine Power Tabs has all the advantages of creatine and avoid the problems associated with the powder.

Creatine Power Tabs are a good delivery systems for those who are up and about and can chew. If you can’t chew, try Creapure brand creatine powder. Mix 3-5 grams of powder per day in divided doses with 4oz of water or a carbohydrate drink. Be sure to completely dissolve the powder in water. Take the creatine about an hour after a high carbohydrate meal. Avoid caffeine in coffee and soft drinks, because it has been reported to neutralize the positive effect of creatine.

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Chad Vaughn, 2004 Olympian

“As an athlete who lives in the gym it is not surprising that I have tried just about every supplement brand on the market. I came across the ViaCore products and their quality is the best I have found. I use their chewable creatine and glutamine when I travel for competition. Also, as I am tested at least once a month by the US anti-doping agency/US Olympic Committee it has been hard for me to find a brand that I can trust; now I won't take creatine or glutamine unless it is ViaCore.”

Chad Vaughn 2004 Olympian,
3 times NCAA champion
American Clean and Jerk Record Holder (418lbs