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Acai Berry (1)
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Muscle & Workout Supplements (Creatine and BCAAs)

How Much Creatine Is Safe?

October 17, 2024
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How much creatine is safe to take on a daily basis? Find out what a recent report from experts recommends in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for creatine.

Creatine & Prostate Cancer Treatment

September 18, 2024
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Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a common treatment for prostate cancer, but it can lead to muscle loss. Did taking creatine along with regular exercise increase muscle mass or strength among men undergoing ADT? See what a recent study found in the Creatine section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks among creatine and BCAA supplements.

HMB for Muscle Loss With Age?

September 03, 2024
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Can taking HMB (hydroxymethylbutyrate) help build muscle mass and strength in older men and women? Find out in our updated article about supplements for age-related muscle loss.

Also see our Top Picks among muscle & workout supplements.

Creatine and Kidney Tests

April 09, 2024
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Does taking creatine interfere with tests of kidney function that measure creatinine? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Creatine and BCAAs Review, which includes our Top Picks for creatine and other workout supplements.

Also see our answer to the question: Which vitamins and supplements should be stopped before getting blood work and laboratory tests?

Problems with Creatine

March 05, 2024
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Recent tests of lesser-known brands of creatine gummies revealed that half contained little creatine and/or had impurities. Get the details by brand in our Muscle Enhancers Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among creatine supplements.

Creatine for Brain Health?

November 10, 2023
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Creatine, a common workout supplement, is also being used to boost memory and cognition, but does it work? Find out what research shows in the Creatine for Memory section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for creatine.

Creatine for Post-COVID Fatigue?

September 26, 2023
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Does supplementing with creatine reduce fatigue or other symptoms in people with post-COVID fatigue syndrome? Find out what a recent study showed in the Creatine - What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine.

Also see: How Should You Take Care of Yourself After You’ve Had COVID-19?

Creatine & Weight Gain?

January 20, 2023
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Does supplementation with creatine cause water retention or weight gain? Find out what a recent study suggests in the updated Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine and BCAA workout supplements.

Glutamine Side Effects

September 30, 2022
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A CL Member experienced dizziness, nausea, and anxiety after taking L-glutamine. Find out if these are known side effects of L-glutamine, and learn about other potential adverse effects of glutamine in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Also see our article about supplements that may cause dizziness.

Placebo Effect With Creatine?

June 24, 2022
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Creatine seems to improve strength and endurance during high-intensity exercise, but the benefit may be due to a psychological effect, according to a recent study. Learn more in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Liver Danger With Muscle-Building Supplement

June 07, 2022
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A case of liver toxicity was linked to use of an illegal ingredient found in some muscle-building supplements. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

HMB for Muscle Loss in Older People?

February 25, 2022
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Can HMB supplementation improve muscle mass and strength in older people? Find out what research suggests, including who is most likely to benefit, in the HMB section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Leucine for Muscle Loss?

February 23, 2022
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Did leucine supplementation improve physical function in people ages 70 and older with age-related muscle loss in a recent study? Find out in the Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Also see our answer to the question: Which vitamins and minerals should someone over 70 take?

Glutamine and Exercise

June 18, 2021
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Can glutamine supplementation decrease muscle breakdown from exercise? See what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among muscle and workout products.

Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

May 24, 2021
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Find out if creatine supplements cause hair loss. See the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Picks for creatine supplements.

Do Creatine or BCAAs Boost Strength?

December 05, 2020
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When coupled with resistance exercise, does supplementation with creatine or branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) further boost muscle strength? Find out what separate recent studies showed for creatine and BCAAS in the "What It Does" section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Pick for creatine and BCAA supplements.

Preventing Muscle Loss with Leucine?

September 14, 2020
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Do supplements with leucine (a branched-chain amino acid or BCAA) prevent muscle loss when muscles are immobilized (such as in a leg brace)? See what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

A Better Form of Creatine?

November 28, 2019
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A relatively new form of creatine may raise creatine levels in the blood and muscle more effectively than the most common form (creatine monohydrate), but it has drawbacks. Learn more in the ConsumerTips section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine.

Creatine for Older People

April 15, 2019
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Creatine may boost the benefits of resistance exercise for older people, according to recent studies. For details, including dosage, see the What It Does section of the Creatine Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine.

Creatine for Older People

December 17, 2018
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Does taking creatine improve muscles in older people? See the results of a recent study in the What It Does section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Pick for creatine).

Amino Acids After Knee Replacement?

October 04, 2018
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Does taking amino acids after knee replacement surgery help maintain muscle volume, mobility, and strength? See what a recent study found in the What It Does section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks in this category).

Glutamine for IBS?

September 03, 2018
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Glutamine, an amino acid, plays a role in maintaining the digestive tract. Can taking it as a supplement help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Find out what a recent study showed in the Glutamine section of the Muscle Enhancers Review.

Creatine Pumps Up Muscles

December 08, 2017
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Giving creatine during a resistance-training program significantly boosted muscle size more than placebo in a recent study — and certain muscles increased in size more than others. Learn more in the "What It Does" section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review (Creatine & BCAAs). (Also see our Top Picks and Cautions and Concerns for creatine).

Leucine Protects Muscle In Middle-Aged

January 23, 2016
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A recent study found that active, middle-aged people restricted to bed rest for several days lost significantly less muscle mass and function if given a leucine supplement along with their meals. Fat gain was also reduced. Get the details, including our tests of leucine-containing supplements, in the Muscle Enhancers Review >>

Muscle Supplements and Testicular Cancer

April 14, 2015
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A study of men who have used muscle-building supplements shows a disturbing increase in the risk of testicular cancer. More information is in the Muscle Enhancers (Creatine and Branched-chain Amino Acids) Review >>

Creatine Tested for Parkinson Disease

February 16, 2015
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Taking creatine daily for at least five years did not slow the progression of Parkinson disease according to a recently reported study involving nearly 1,000 patients. For more details about the study, other studies with creatine (for strength, fibromyalgia, etc.), and our tests of creatine supplements, see the Product Review of Muscle Enhancers (Creatine and Branched-chain Amino Acids) >> 

Amino Acids Speed Recovery From Knee Surgery

November 09, 2013
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A study of men and women receiving knee replacement surgery showed that taking essential amino acids (including branched-chain amino acids) twice daily before and after surgery reduced muscle loss and speeded recovery. For details, including dosage, plus our reviews of amino acid supplements, see the updated Muscle Enhancers Review >> 

Creatine for Fibromyalgia

May 18, 2013
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A new study shows that creatine might have a role in boosting muscle strength in patients with fibromyalgia. Get the details, plus quality ratings for creatine supplements in our updated Muscle Enhancers (Creatine and Branched Chain Amino Acids) Review >>