Just keep hearing all this negative hype surrounding Creatine, thought I would post this:

An excellent review of creatine supplementation in humans by world-renowned biochemist Ira Jacobs shows the only "side effect" every reported during creatine supplementation has been weight gain.

Jacobs reviewed well over 100 full research papers published only in peer-reviewed journals where research design was double blind and placebo controlled only. No rabble or newspaper stuff, just the science. Jacobs has heard all the media hype about the side effects of creatine - everything from muscle tears, cramps, kidney and gastrointestinal problems, acne and even nightmares! While examining extensive data on both elite athletes during intense training and complete novices, Jacobs could not find even a hint of one of these problems in the literature. Even a recent report on long term creatine users (5-10years) came up with nothing, zip, nada. No side effects.

The report also showed those subjects with the highest creatine uptake in muscle had the lowest initial, pretreatment concentrations. Where as those with already high creatine levels show little or no change.

Exercise during the supplementation period resulted in increased creatine accumulation and that creatine loading does enhance muscular performance. However, in most reports about performance, there were no simultaneous determination of muscle creatine levels. So we don’t know what levels are required to improve performance.

So after 10 years of scrutiny, creatine shows an immaculate track record. Even socially acceptable substances like caffeine and aspirin cannot demonstrate this.

Ref: Dietary Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation.1999 Can.J.Appl.Physiol. 24(6) Dec:503-514

Another good post! Mind if I quote you on this on another forum?

Yah thas alrite, I actually have come across that while researching for my dissertation.