What is Creatine?

About Creatine:

• It is a naturally occurring nitrogen-containing organic compound.
• It is a natural source of energy that helps skeletal muscles flex (contract).
• It helps create a steady supply of energy in muscles so they can keep working, especially while exercising.
• About half of body’s supply of creatine comes from the diet, especially protein-rich foods such as:
  • Red meat
  • Seafood
  • Milk
• The body produces the other half naturally in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas from amino acids such as arginine, glycine, and methionine.
• Most creatine (about 95 percent) is stored in skeletal muscles as phosphocreatine.
  • Phosphocreatine helps make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells.
  • So creatine in the muscles normally is a supply for the energy needed during exercise.
• The rest of the creatine (about 5 percent) is stored in the heart, brain, and other tissues.