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PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 2 August 2001, pp. 421-425
Received Apr 13, 2000; accepted Mar 22, 2001.
,
From the * Sports Medicine Service, Hospital for Special
Surgery, Department of Pediatrics, Cornell Medical College, New York,
New York; Objective. Creatine is a nutritional
supplement that is purported to be a safe ergogenic aid in adults.
Although as many as 28% of collegiate athletes admit taking creatine,
there is little information about creatine use or potential health risk
in children and adolescents. Although the use of creatine is not
recommended in people less than 18 years of age, numerous anecdotal
reports indicate widespread use in young athletes. The purpose of this
study was to determine the frequency, risk factors, and demographics of
creatine use among middle and high school student athletes.
Methods. Before their annual sports preparticipation
physical examinations, middle and high school athletes aged 10 to 18 in
Westchester County, a suburb north of New York City, were surveyed in a
confidential manner. Information was collected regarding school grade,
gender, specific sport participation, and creatine use.
Results. Overall, 62 of 1103 participants (5.6%) admitted
taking creatine. Creatine use was reported in every grade, from 6 to
12. Forty-four percent of grade 12 athletes surveyed reported using creatine. Creatine use was significantly more common
(P < .001) among boys (53/604, 8.8%) than girls
(9/492, 1.8%). Although creatine was taken by participants in every
sport, use was significantly more common among football players,
wrestlers, hockey players, gymnasts, and lacrosse players
(P < .001 for all). The most common reasons cited
for taking creatine were enhanced performance (74.2% of users) and
improved appearance (61.3%), and the most common reason cited for not
taking creatine was safety (45.7% of nonusers).
Conclusions. Despite current recommendations against use
in adolescents less than 18 years old, creatine is being used by middle
and high school athletes at all grade levels. The prevalence in grades 11 and 12 approaches levels reported among collegiate athletes. Until
the safety of creatine can be established in adolescents, the use of
this product should be discouraged.
Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New
York, New York; § Department of Pediatrics, Northern Westchester
Hospital Center, Mt Kisco, New York; Department of Pediatrics,
Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
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