Creatine takes a pasting in the NZ Herald

[Pseudonym]

Views split on muscle-booster

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3580097&thesection=news&thesubsection=general&thesecondsubsection=

24.07.2004

Scientists are asking whether sport should ban a performance-boosting supplement popular with top New Zealand rugby players.

Although creatine occurs in the body, it is impossible to naturally ingest the amounts athletes can take using the supplement, says a report in the Physiological Review.

"Therefore ... discussions should continue on whether creatine supplementation is a legal [muscle-boosting] aid or whether it should be regarded as a doping strategy."

Creatine was popular among rugby players after the Super 12 competition was introduced in 1996. Carlos Spencer appeared in a 1997 Fitness magazine article on the supplement saying it aided his weight-training and that he would take it for three or four days before an event. Olympic bronze medallist board sailor Aaron McIntosh said in the same article that he used it.

A New Zealand user told the Weekend Herald he felt transformed by creatine, which he credited with boosting his appetite, mental alertness, sex drive and strength.

"It changed my life. Within a few months I had gone from benchpressing 80kg to 120kg."

The supplement has long been controversial in Ireland, where Sports Minister Dr James McDaid told Parliament in 1997 that he would do what he could to ban it. "As a medical practitioner, I believe creatine is harmful."

In 2001, the Irish Sports Council recommended that athletes not take the supplement. This was based on short-term side-effects including muscle cramps, gastrointestinal dysfunction and dehydration.

A spokesman for General Nutrition Products, which packages a brand of creatine, said the firm believed the supplement was safe and beneficial.

CREATINE

* The body creates it from food, particularly meat, but does so in only tiny amounts.

* Supplementation can give huge boosts to the amount stored in the muscles.

* It is thought to benefit explosive activities, such as sprinting and weight-training.

[Pseudonym]

Warning on Super 12's booster

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3580095&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

24.07.2004

By PHIL TAYLOR

The world's top sports anti-doping agency is warning athletes against a performance-enhancing supplement which has been popular among New Zealand rugby players.

The World Anti-Doping Agency is giving the warning because of potential health risks, in particular to the kidneys and liver.

Joeli Vidiri is among Super 12 players who took creatine. In 2001, he was diagnosed as having nephrotic syndrome, a condition which has led to his kidneys failing. He receives dialysis three times a week.

Vidiri began taking creatine, which he told the Weekend Herald was provided by the Blues, in 1997.

Graham Henry was co-coach and Graeme Paterson was the team doctor. They are now the All Black coach and doctor.

But the New Zealand Rugby Union says it is not concerned about widespread use of the supplement today.

Medical director Dr Steve Targett said he believed creatine was a passing fad that peaked a few years ago, so he did not think it necessary to issue a warning.

Jonah Lomu, who also has nephrotic syndrome and requires dialysis, was in the Blues at the same time as Vidiri.

But Lomu told the Weekend Herald he did not take the supplement, which many sports people used as a legal way of adding bulk and providing explosive energy.

World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman said reports suggested kidney and liver failures might be related to high consumption of creatine.

He said the agency decided there should be an educational message sent to athletes on the limited effect of the substance, and the possible risks associated with it.

Taking small amounts of creatine was unlikely to be damaging, but longer-term research was needed.

Meanwhile, Ireland is to join France in banning creatine. The Irish Sports Council and Ireland's Minister of Sport, James McDaid, a doctor, oppose creatine use and the Irish Rugby Union is understood to be moving to ban it.

Reports in scientific journals say proper long-term studies have yet to be done to evaluate side-effects and safety. Many warn people with kidney problems not to take it.

Creatine was in demand because it was seen as a legal alternative to anabolic steroids and an aid to building bulk and strength. It was particularly popular in New Zealand and was used by players in rugby's Super 12 and NPC competitions.

Vidiri said he stopped taking it because it made him too bulky.

"I put on heaps of weight."

Lomu said he knew of his kidney problems when creatine became popular and he discussed the supplement with John Mayhew, who is Lomu's GP and was the All Black doctor at the time.

"I felt my kidneys did not need any loading - they were under enough stress as it was."

Nephrotic syndrome is not a disease but a number of symptoms characterised by the leakage of protein, mainly through the urine. It can result from damage to tiny blood vessels in the kidneys.

It can arise from diabetic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidney filters) and a few other rare disorders.

Neither Lomu nor Vidiri are diabetic. Both receive dialysis and Lomu is seeking a kidney donor.

Doctors spoken to by the Weekend Herald regarded the warnings for people with kidney problems not to take creatine as a sensible precaution, but also said there was no solid evidence to link creatine to renal problems such as nephritis.

Otago University nephrologist Professor Rob Walker said creatine would not cause nephrotic syndrome but could make an existing kidney condition worse.

Professor Ian Simpson, a nephrologist involved in the care of Lomu and Vidiri, said someone could have a reaction to creatine but that would be rare.

"There are about 10 different types of nephritis and Jonah had one kind and Joeli had a different kind. I think it is bad luck, and nothing to do with anything."

[Pseudonym]

Now let's see... how can we cause the greatest public outcry over this nasty creatine supplement, create a widespread panic, and sell more papers?

Easy! We'll just...

... link it to some well-known sportspeople who have kidney problems, and gloss over the fact that their specialist says he doesn't think creatine was to blame.

... avoid mentioning exactly how much creatine Vidiri was taking while he was a Blues player. (Lomu says he didn't even take creatine - but he's so famous, we'll include him in the story anyway)

... call it an alternative to anabolic steriods. That'll get the public excited! Never mind that there is no similarity between the two substances, at all. A better comparison for creatine would be with plain ol' carbohydrates (both are used in the production of energy) but that's not as sensational.

Now, we do need to provide balance in this story - so at the bottom of this lengthy article we'll add three sentences from those boring people who think creatine is ok.

Good journalism, NZ Herald!!

:roll:

[jono]

lol... pure ignorance. i thought it was the news media's job to report fact not fiction.

[Pseudonym]

A New Zealand user told the Weekend Herald he felt transformed by creatine, which he credited with boosting his appetite, mental alertness, sex drive and strength.

"It changed my life. Within a few months I had gone from benchpressing 80kg to 120kg."

I'd love to know what brand of creatine he uses!

[michaelk]

I don't see there being a huge outcry to this, it is a filler article that gets rehashed every year or two.

Creatine is here to stay, well used safely by hundreds of mainstream sports people and non sports gym goers alike.

It may sound like a scary article as if hits close to home with a lot of us, but really- the huge bench increase and rapid weight gains mentioned are going to turn more people ON to a safe product than off it.

Hope your shelves are stocked retailers:)

[Dragon]

That bench press increase seems unfeasible.

[Laver]

[Gym rat]

I don't see there being a huge outcry to this, it is a filler article that gets rehashed every year or two.

Creatine is here to stay, well used safely by hundreds of mainstream sports people and non sports gym goers alike.

It may sound like a scary article as if hits close to home with a lot of us, but really- the huge bench increase and rapid weight gains mentioned are going to turn more people ON to a safe product than off it.

Hope your shelves are stocked retailers:)

I also don't see why there is huge outcry about creatine when creatine helps one to lift heaver weights or rapid weight gain.I hope all the reatailers who stock creatine have there selfs well stocked.

[boostinggtir]

when you combine creatine an protein shakes the results are at least as powerful as steroids.

[Darwinstef]

Thanks Laver, I never noticed the 2004 date stamp :pfft: