The evidence is mixed, but the preponderance of the evidence suggests that it’s unlikely that creatine will increase your testosterone levels.
Three randomized controlled trials conducted in healthy young men reported that supplementing with creatine for 1–3 weeks produced small increases in the levels of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT; a highly active androgen converted from testosterone).[1][2][3] One of the 3 trials looked at the effect of creatine loading (25 grams/day for 1 week) followed by a maintenance phase (5 grams/day for 2 weeks) on testosterone and DHT in 20 young, healthy rugby players. Although no effect on testosterone was found, creatine increased the levels of DHT by 12 nanograms of DHT per deciliter of blood (ng/dL).[1] The other 2 trials found that supplementation with creatine for 1 week in healthy, active young men increased the concentrations of testosterone by 57 ng/dL and 150 ng/dL.[2][3]
Conversely, 10 other trials (involving a total of 218 participants) looking at the effect of supplemental creatine at daily doses of 3–25 grams on testosterone levels for up to 12 weeks have found no statistically significant effect.[4][5][6][1][7][8][9][10][11][12] The participants in the majority of these trials were healthy, active young men. With regard to the form of creatine used, 9 trials administered creatine monohydrate, whereas 1 trial administered creatine malate. It’s worth noting that no trials have looked at the effect of creatine on testosterone in men with abnormally low testosterone levels.
Taken together, the available evidence suggests that supplementing with creatine is unlikely to increase testosterone levels, at least in young healthy men whose testosterone levels are within the normal range.
References
- ^van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KHThree weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby playersClin J Sport Med.(2009 Sep)
- ^Vatani DS, Faraji H, Soori R, Mogharnasi RThe Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Performance and Hormonal Response in Amateur SwimmersScience and Sports.(2011 Nov)
- ^Arazi H, Rahmaninia F, Hosseini K, Asadi AEffects of short term creatine supplementation and resistance exercises on resting hormonal and cardiovascular responsesScience and Sports.(2015 Apr)
- ^Cooke MB, Brabham B, Buford TW, Shelmadine BD, McPheeters M, Hudson GM, Stathis C, Greenwood M, Kreider R, Willoughby DSCreatine supplementation post-exercise does not enhance training-induced adaptations in middle to older aged malesEur J Appl Physiol.(2014 Jun)
- ^Cook CJ, Crewther BT, Kilduff LP, Drawer S, Gaviglio CMSkill execution and sleep deprivation: effects of acute caffeine or creatine supplementation - a randomized placebo-controlled trialJ Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2011 Feb 16)
- ^Crowe MJ, O'Connor DM, Lukins JEThe effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) and HMB/creatine supplementation on indices of health in highly trained athletesInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2003 Jun)
- ^Hoffman J, Ratamess N, Kang J, Mangine G, Faigenbaum A, Stout JEffect of creatine and beta-alanine supplementation on performance and endocrine responses in strength/power athletesInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2006 Aug)
- ^Eijnde BO, Hespel PShort-term creatine supplementation does not alter the hormonal response to resistance trainingMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2001 Mar)
- ^Volek JS, Ratamess NA, Rubin MR, Gómez AL, French DN, McGuigan MM, Scheett TP, Sharman MJ, Häkkinen K, Kraemer WJThe effects of creatine supplementation on muscular performance and body composition responses to short-term resistance training overreachingEur J Appl Physiol.(2004 May)
- ^Faraji H, Arazi H, Vatani D, Hakimi MThe effects of creatine supplementation on sprint running performance and selected hormonal responsesSAJRSPER.(2010)
- ^Rahimi R, Faraji H, Vatani DS, Qaderi MCreatine supplementation alters the hormonal response to resistance exerciseKinesiology.(2010)
- ^Volek JS, Boetes M, Bush JA, Putukian M, Sebastianelli W, Wayne J, Kraemer, WJResponse of Testosterone and Cortisol Concentrations to High-Intensity Resistance Exercise Following Creatine SupplementationJSCR.(1997 Ayg)