Creatine is a dietary supplement designed to enhance athletic performance. Creatine monohydrate has increasingly been used as a substitute for steroids. Many people who would never touch steroids have claimed to use creatine as a performance enhancer. However, as with many steroids, high creatine levels in the body have been found to have adverse effects.

Creatine is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the body. It is produced by the liver and kidneys and used as an energy source by muscles and other organs. Creatine can also be derived naturally through eating certain meats, poultry, and fish. Only creatine supplements can produce high creatine levels in the body.

High creatine levels have been shown to improve sports performance when bursts of energy are required. The dietary supplement is used in sports such as weightlifting, running, wrestling, and hockey. It is usually taken as a pill or powder that can be mixed with sports drinks.

The makers of creatine supplements claim that high creatine levels fuel skeletal muscles. The supplement has been available for around 12 years and can be purchased in health food stores and online. Unlike many steroids, creatine is not illegal. According to health and sports officials, the side effects of creatine can include muscle cramps, dehydration, and nausea.

Another side effect of high creatine levels is anterior compartment pressure. This appears as tightness in the calf and/or shin splints. Other noted side effects of high creatine levels include diarrhea and tears to the ligaments.

According to recent statistics, sales of creatine have grown by 730% in the last ten years. Although creatine is legal and easy to purchase, some concerns have arisen regarding the content of the supplements. Health officials have stated that at least 25% of these dietary supplements are laced with substances that are not listed on the packaging.

Peer pressure is one of the reasons that creatine is such a big seller. The pressure to compete and win in today’s society, no matter what the cost, has been a big factor in the rise in sales of these supplements. Creatine has been used in competitive sports at the university and high school level. Competitors with high creatine levels have been found at nearly every sporting level from amateur to professional.

Many athletic coaches are well aware that students are using these dietary supplements to enhance their abilities. A recent study by the Blue Cross showed that one million people from the age of 12 to 17 have used dietary supplements to enhance their sports performance. The long term affects of high creatine levels have yet to be determined.