What is the history of Creatine?

Creatine was discovered in 1832 by French biochemist Michel Eugène Chevreul. In the 1920s, individuals in the food industry were extracting creatine from meat. Then, the use of creatine as a supplement began to gain popularity when Olympic athletes started to use it. One such athlete mentioned using creatine after winning a gold medal, which propelled creatine into the public eye. Notable researchers in Europe like Eric Holtman, Roger Harris, and Paul Greenhoff furthered this interest by conducting experimental research on creatine supplementation. They observed that supplementing creatine could increase stores primarily in muscles, and consistent findings showed that high doses of creatine could saturate muscle stores, possibly allowing individuals to exert extra effort in physical activities.

For about two decades, creatine supplementation was researched in the context of muscle and anaerobic metabolism, leading to the idea that creatine could make you bigger, stronger, and faster. As the safety profile of creatine was well-established, and the effects well-known, creatine research became less prominent. However, in the last decade or two, a resurgence of interest in creatine has occurred as researchers began to explore its effects beyond muscle, such as on bone health, neurophysiological diseases, muscle dystrophy, and mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. The upcoming research and findings are starting to focus more on holistic body health, including brain benefits, rather than just muscle enhancements 1.