The Fight For Creatine Essay Research Paper — страница 2

taking it. He says, ?My body has responded well to it? (Springen). Some doctors say that creatine promotes dehydration and cramping. This is yet another myth of this drug. One sign of dehydration is low electrolyte levels. With all the studies on creatine there has never been a finding of this unless the athlete trained in a hot and humid atmosphere. When looking at any athlete who has trained in these conditions, dehydration could be found. Users of creatine have been known to cramp but not any more than athletes who don?t take it. There are no scientific studies that support the idea that creatine causes cramping and dehydration (Kreider). Doctors say the use of creatine could also cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. The studies that show these results are rare. Even when

these were some symptoms, they were not major enough to stop taking the supplements. When these indications were noted, most of the takers used more than the recommended dosage. With these few isolated cases, gastrointestinal problems have not diminished the popularity of creatine among athletes (Kreider). ?Creatine seems to work? (Sullivan). Researchers put nineteen women on a ten-week weight-lifting program. The women on the creatine gained strength on the leg press by forty-six percent. The women who were not on a creatine supplement only gained about twenty-five percent of leg strength. The creatine group also gained seven pounds, which was twice that of the controlled group. This gain of weight can be directed to muscle mass. This shows that while taking creatine a person

can gain muscle faster. Some still think that some of this weight gain could be water, not muscle even though they are becoming stronger (Sullivan). The long-term side effects of creatine are unknown. This is true. No one really knows how creatine will react with the body in the future. Some studies have been done on patients with gyrate atrophy and infants with creatine-synthesis deficiency. In these studies, creatine was administered at 1.5 grams to 8 grams a day for up to five years. ?Available evidence indicates that short- and long-term creatine supplementation does not pose a medical risk when taken at recommended dosages? (Kreider). Most studies show taking creatine leads to greater training adaptations. When an athlete is able to train harder they are able to build more

muscle faster. Building more muscle faster means that they will be able to stronger, faster. The result of this will give them an advantage over their opponent. They will be stronger and will be able to out perform the opposition. Some people ask why should high school students be taking this drug? I don?t think that they should. They should not be taking any supplements that are not natural to their bodies. The amount of hormones that are in a normal high school student is already giving them the energy to bulk up. The extra hormones could just cause more problems than what will help them. When doing research on a drug I would look at the Olympics. Most of their rules will regulate any drug that is not appropriate for athletes even before it comes out. The Olympic committee has

not banned creatine. Therefore, why should there be an all out ban of this drug? If anything, it should be the decision of the leagues, teams, and coaches. Not a decision made by the government. Bibliography Kreider, Richard B. ?6 Creatine fears: Real concern or false alarm?? Joe Weider?s Muscle & Fitness November 1999: 160-161. . Schrof, Joannie M. ?McGwire Hits the Pills.? U.S. News & World Report September 7, 1998: 53-54. . Sullivan, Dana. ?Crazy for creatine.? Joe Weider?s Shape October 1999: 40-42. . Springen, Karen, Marc Peyser, and Jennifer Lach. ?The New Muscle Candy.? Newsweek January 12, 1998. .