Mayo Clinic Care Network Content
Articles

Creatine

Overview
Evidence
Our take
Safety and side effects
Interactions

Safety and side effects

When used orally at appropriate doses, creatine is likely safe to take for up to five years. As with any dietary supplement, it's important to choose a product that follows recommended manufacturing practices and subscribes to third-party testing to ensure the product's quality.

Creatine can cause:

  • Weight gain, generally as lean body mass

Creatine might be unsafe for people with preexisting kidney problems. However, further research is needed.