Creatine remains a popular ingredient in the sports nutrition market, used by athletes looking to increase muscle mass and enhance performance. However, controversy still remains about its use, particularly among younger athletes. In a story from WLNS out of Lansing, Mich., Ann Emmerich talked to various players about the use of creatine and its potential.
On the pro side of the fence were trainer Mike Twombley from Community Health & Fitness, Okemos, and high school football player Cooper Sigourney. Twombley touted creatine’s ability to support muscle growth and strength as well as its safety profile, stating, “Creatine is a very basic supplement and something that you know athletes can take safety, and parents can rest assured that they’re not taking anything illegal or is going to cause harm to their young athlete.” Sigourney has been using creatine and reported it has boosted his weight and performance.
However, Ken Mannie, a coach at Michigan State, and dietitian Michele Nikolai questioned the need for creatine and its place in a workout regimen. Michigan has banned high school coaches from recommending creatine to their athletes, while the NCAA has a similar ban in place; Mannie said most high school and college males are getting enough creatine through their diet. Nikolai suggested good nutrition and training should be the cornerstone of athletic training, instead of using powders like creatine, “because it could lead to other supplement use that may be more dangerous.”
Interestingly, Michigan State football players do take certain supplements recommended by their coaches: a nutritional drink made by Gatorade and a post-workout drink of cherry juice to address muscle soreness and inflammation.