…or that’s what the scaremongering mainstream media would have you think. The furor over creatine dangers really began with the tragic deaths of 3 college students in 1997 and true to form, the mainstream media didn’t let the facts get in the way of scaring you to death: their implication was that creatine was responsible. Completely false: I have the facts and common sense as both a researcher and longtime user of creatine to prove otherwise, and expose not only the truth behind this story, where it all began, but also any other dangers of creatine which may be lurking in the shadows.

Where The ‘Controversy’ Began: The Triple College Wrestler Deaths

In 1997 when 3 college wrestlers died, speculation was rife – particularly in the media – and thus began the blame game. It’s only natural to want to find a reason, but to invent a reason is beyond belief: Creatine along with other supplements was named as a possible cause of death.

…which was entirely impossible in the case of 2 wrestlers – as they’d never taken it before! And the third had stopped using creatine 3 weeks before his death and his body’s creatine levels would’ve long since returned to normal! [Dr. Lynn Myers – renowned nutrition expert and practicing pathologist – discovered these facts from the autopsy report, coaches and other sources.]

Yet, the media didn’t rush to get this information out there.

The Truth: The wrestlers died from extreme dehydration, heat exhaustion and one from heart failure by using dangerous practices to drop water weight [wearing rubber suits, cycling in a sauna – fact].

Naturally, the FDA eventually cleared creatine of any role in the deaths. (An inevitable outcome given the fact 2 had never used it and the third had stopped 3 weeks before his death and all 3 had simply dehydrated themselves to death.)

Fanatical researcher and top bodybuilding nutrition guru Will Brink – whom has collaborated with top Olympic strength coach Charles Poliquin before and is known for his NO B.S. articles – explained how creatine is one of the most widely used, and certainly most extensively researched sport enhancement supplements of all time, and believes it’s safety has a tremendous track record. I agree.

Brink also states how critics of creatine and harbingers of creatine dangers have yet to produce any study or true evidence to back up their claims that creatine – when used properly and by healthy people – has any kind of inherent dangers. Go figure.

What about creatine and kidney function?

Of all the supposed creatine dangers – dangers the critics have yet to provide a shred of evidence to back up; go figure – is the enduring question of how creatine can effect the kidneys. I’ll explain…

It is known that creatine can in rare instances raise a persons creatinine levels. Creatinine is a byproduct of creatine breakdown, and heightened creatinine levels in the blood is known to be a symptom – not a cause – of kidney dysfunction. Heightened creatinine levels cannot damage the kidneys. So, at worst, heightened creatinine levels are a symptom of dysfunctional kidneys, not a cause. Yet, again, we have scaremongers who quite willfully put the cart before the horse and say that must mean heightened creatinine causes kidney dysfunction when it just isn’t true.

Healthy kidneys can quite easily filter creatinine. In fact, a 2003 study on animals who even had pre-existing kidney failure showed that creatine supplementation had no effect whatsoever on the kidneys, so someone with healthy kidneys shouldn’t have any issues whatsoever. You can read that study here.

Maybe now you’re a little more clued up on supposed creatine dangers you can start thinking about supplementing with it. Just remember that creatine is about ATP and only benefits anaerobic, explosive sports/training and doesn’t improve aerobic training in any way.