How much creatine do I need?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Approximately 14.6 mmol of creatinine (creatine’s urinary metabolite) is lost on a daily basis in the average 70 kg healthy young man who has a creatine storage capacity of around 120 g.[1] This represents a daily creatine loss rate of 1.6%–1.7% (around 2 g),[2][3] and is the amount of creatine that has to be obtained from the diet or in supplemental form on a daily basis in order to maintain sufficient creatine levels. This value is usually around 20% lower in women and 45% lower in older adults due to lower levels of lean mass in these populations,[1][4] and higher in individuals with higher than normal levels of lean mass.[1]

    References

    1. ^Brosnan JT, da Silva RP, Brosnan METhe metabolic burden of creatine synthesisAmino Acids.(2011 May)
    2. ^Kan HE, van der Graaf M, Klomp DW, Vlak MH, Padberg GW, Heerschap AIntake of 13C-4 creatine enables simultaneous assessment of creatine and phosphocreatine pools in human skeletal muscle by 13C MR spectroscopyMagn Reson Med.(2006 Nov)
    3. ^M Wyss, R Kaddurah-DaoukCreatine and creatinine metabolismPhysiol Rev.(2000 Jul)
    4. ^Brosnan JT, Brosnan MECreatine: endogenous metabolite, dietary, and therapeutic supplementAnnu Rev Nutr.(2007)