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ConsumerLab.com finds that not all creatine supplements meet label claims; Popular sports supplement test results released online
WHITE PLAINS, NY, August 7, 2000 — ConsumerLab.com today released results of its 8th Product Review, focusing on creatine monohydrate dietary supplements. Creatine is used by athletes to improve performance during short-duration, high-intensity muscular activities, such as weight lifting and sprinting. It has been used, as widely reported, by the baseball player Mark McGwire. Among the 13 creatine products independently tested by ConsumerLab.com, eleven, or 85%, were found to meet ConsumerLab.com's standards for creatine content and purity as well as related claims appearing on their labels.
One of the two products that did not pass testing was found to contain less than the labeled amount of creatine. The other product that did not pass failed to meet its claim of being free of the impurity dicyandiamide. Poorly manufactured creatine may be contaminated with the by-products dicyandiamide and creatinine (which is also a breakdown product of creatine that is often measured in blood testing to determine kidney functioning). While neither dicyandiamide nor creatinine is believed toxic in small amounts, they are not useful and must be eliminated by the kidneys. Purity is particularly important for creatine supplements because doses are relatively large — exceeding 20 grams per day (approximately four tablespoons of creatine powder) in some dosing regimens. Consequently, claims of purity are common in the marketing of creatine products. None of the products tested in this review failed on the basis of creatinine contamination.
Tod Cooperman, M.D., ConsumerLab.com's President, commented that, "The passing rate among creatine products is actually better than we have seen for most types of supplements tested so far by ConsumerLab.com. The production of high quality products is clearly achievable with creatine, although some manufacturers still need to do a better job."
A list of the products that passed, as well as more information about the testing, is available at www.consumerlab.com. To further assist consumers, ConsumerLab.com is licensing its flask-shaped Seal of Approved Quality for Creatine to manufacturers and distributors to use on products that passed testing. ConsumerLab.com will periodically re-evaluate these products to ensure their compliance with its standards. In addition, manufacturers and distributors may request the testing of products not already tested. The list of creatine products that have passed testing will be continually updated.
Products were purchased through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. Creatine and other dietary supplements, which now represent $14 billion in annual sales, are not considered drugs in the U.S. and do not require testing for quality by any governmental agency prior to sale.
ConsumerLab.com's recent Product Reviews have included ginkgo biloba, saw palmetto, glucosamine, chondroitin, SAM-e, vitamin C, and Asian and American ginseng. By year-end, Product Reviews of calcium, multivitamins, CoQ10, vitamin E, echinacea and St. John's wort will also be released at www.consumerlab.com and through other Web sites and media licensed by ConsumerLab.com. Next year, ConsumerLab.com plans to publish the first annual edition of ConsumerLab.com's Consumer's Guide to Supplements in print form.
ConsumerLab.com is a provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition. The company is privately held and headquartered in White Plains, New York. It has no ownership from or interest in companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Parties interested in purchasing comprehensive Product Review Technical Reports, licensing content or requesting testing of additional products may contact Lisa Sabin, Vice President for Business Development, at lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com. More information about Consumerlab.com is available at www.consumerlab.com.
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2000. All rights reserved. For use only by news organizations. Other parties wishing to republish this information are required to have prior written permission from ConsumerLab.com.
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One of the two products that did not pass testing was found to contain less than the labeled amount of creatine. The other product that did not pass failed to meet its claim of being free of the impurity dicyandiamide. Poorly manufactured creatine may be contaminated with the by-products dicyandiamide and creatinine (which is also a breakdown product of creatine that is often measured in blood testing to determine kidney functioning). While neither dicyandiamide nor creatinine is believed toxic in small amounts, they are not useful and must be eliminated by the kidneys. Purity is particularly important for creatine supplements because doses are relatively large — exceeding 20 grams per day (approximately four tablespoons of creatine powder) in some dosing regimens. Consequently, claims of purity are common in the marketing of creatine products. None of the products tested in this review failed on the basis of creatinine contamination.
Tod Cooperman, M.D., ConsumerLab.com's President, commented that, "The passing rate among creatine products is actually better than we have seen for most types of supplements tested so far by ConsumerLab.com. The production of high quality products is clearly achievable with creatine, although some manufacturers still need to do a better job."
A list of the products that passed, as well as more information about the testing, is available at www.consumerlab.com. To further assist consumers, ConsumerLab.com is licensing its flask-shaped Seal of Approved Quality for Creatine to manufacturers and distributors to use on products that passed testing. ConsumerLab.com will periodically re-evaluate these products to ensure their compliance with its standards. In addition, manufacturers and distributors may request the testing of products not already tested. The list of creatine products that have passed testing will be continually updated.
Products were purchased through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. Creatine and other dietary supplements, which now represent $14 billion in annual sales, are not considered drugs in the U.S. and do not require testing for quality by any governmental agency prior to sale.
ConsumerLab.com's recent Product Reviews have included ginkgo biloba, saw palmetto, glucosamine, chondroitin, SAM-e, vitamin C, and Asian and American ginseng. By year-end, Product Reviews of calcium, multivitamins, CoQ10, vitamin E, echinacea and St. John's wort will also be released at www.consumerlab.com and through other Web sites and media licensed by ConsumerLab.com. Next year, ConsumerLab.com plans to publish the first annual edition of ConsumerLab.com's Consumer's Guide to Supplements in print form.
ConsumerLab.com is a provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition. The company is privately held and headquartered in White Plains, New York. It has no ownership from or interest in companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Parties interested in purchasing comprehensive Product Review Technical Reports, licensing content or requesting testing of additional products may contact Lisa Sabin, Vice President for Business Development, at lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com. More information about Consumerlab.com is available at www.consumerlab.com.
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2000. All rights reserved. For use only by news organizations. Other parties wishing to republish this information are required to have prior written permission from ConsumerLab.com.
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