Consumerlab.com finds new forms of creatine prone to problems — Test results of muscular enhancement supplements published online today

WHITE PLAINS, NY — September 24, 2003 — Testing by ConsumerLab.com of creatine supplements found problems with the majority of products sold in liquid, effervescent and chewable forms. Problems were not found among standard creatine "powder" products. One liquid product contained virtually no creatine and was contaminated with a creatine breakdown compound despite claiming to contain "100% STABLE" and "PURE" creatine and boasting "BUILDS LEAN MUSCLE MASS."

Creatine supplementation has been shown to be useful in maintaining strength in repetitive, brief, high-intensity sports activities. It is not, however, beneficial in purely aerobic exercise and its potential for increasing muscle size may relate to short-term water retention rather than increases in muscle tissue. Creatine's popularity among athletes has spurred a variety of product forms other than powders that must be mixed into drinks.

"There are legitimate, pure creatine products on the market but there are also pure rip-offs," commented Tod Cooperman, M.D., ConsumerLab.com's President. "People considering muscle enhancement supplements should be realistic about the effectiveness of these products and skeptical about their contents — particularly with newer forms."

Two other types of supplements used in muscle enhancement — HMB (hydroxy methylbutyrate) and glutamine — were also tested. HMB may help increase muscle mass and strength with weight training. The value of glutamine supplementation in exercise performance has not been demonstrated — although it may reduce the incidence of infection in athletes who are over-training. All HMB products passed the testing except for one having less than 90% its claimed amount. All glutamine products contained their claimed amounts, but one failed to pass the review for not following FDA labeling regulations — including the display of the unapproved claims "Combats free-radical damage linked to most degenerative diseases" and "Increases Growth Hormone release."

The Review can be found at www.consumerlab.com/results/creatine.asp and includes results for 22 creatine, HMB, and glutamine supplements, including 15 tested in the Review and 7 others that recently passed the same evaluation through ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program. The Review also provides information on how to best choose and use these supplements. Subscription is required for the full report. Reviews of other popular types of supplements are also available online. Soon to be released new Reviews include Joint Supplements (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and SAMe), Lutein and CoQ10. ConsumerLab.com's Guide to Buying Vitamins and Supplements: What's really in the bottle? was released in paperback earlier this month — it can be purchased in bookstores, online or through 800-431-1579.

ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in White Plains, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. ConsumerLab.com is affiliated with PharmacyChecker.com (www.pharmacychecker.com), an evaluator of online pharmacies. Subscription to Consumerlab.com is available online. For group subscriptions, Technical Reports, or product testing contact Lisa Sabin, Vice President for Business Development, at lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com.

Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2003. All rights reserved.



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