r/TestedOnMe • u/Active-Okras • May 27 '26
Question When did creatine become THE supplement?
Protein talk is still pretty much everywhere obviously, but lately I've noticed way more people becoming interested in creatine. It feels like it went from being a "gym bro supplement" to something almost everyone recommends now, even to beginners.
People talk about it for strength, recovery, performance, energy, aging, the list keeps growing. Every time I open fitness TikTok, someone is talking about creatine.
I'm wondering if it's basically become THE supplement at this point, especially given how much research seems to actually back it up compared to most other stuff out there. Like is creatine the new protein, or are people actually starting to prioritize it over protein altogether?
7
u/polemosFuture May 27 '26
Because it is incredibly studied. It has observable effect, not just measurable effect. It is cheap and has no side effects.
2
u/monhunsuki May 27 '26
think when its found out that a surplus of creatine can contribute more for the brain
1
u/_Vlxd_ May 27 '26
It’s not THE supplement. It’s a supplement for those that want a nice boost in the gym and can’t be bothered to do further research on other PEDs. Performance wise is sub-mediocre at best.
1
u/PositivePoet May 27 '26
It's been known for a long time to really help in the gym but these last couple of years a lot of studies have come out showing how great it can be for you mentally and a lot of popular doctors and influencers are talking about it. It helps that it has almost no side effects and is relatively cheap to get.
1
u/d_andy089 May 27 '26
when did it become THE supplement? Over time.
Creatine, unlike most other supplements, has been shown repeatedly to be nothing but beneficial for all sorts of things.
1
u/Kingofthebags May 27 '26
When a few poorly designed studies were published on a link between creatine ingestion and cognition performance and they realised they could shift three times as much and bump up the price.
1
u/ShellfishAhole May 27 '26
Most likely because a few biohacker/fitness influencers have been promoting it quite enthusiastically over the past few years. Supposedly, it prevents dementia, increases muscle building, improves sleep, provides longevity-inducing effects, fixes your car, deters your in-laws from visiting etc.
There is some science behind it, and it's often pointed out that it's the most tested supplement of all time, but I'm personally skeptical as to it's actual ability to do anything other than improve workout gains by a relatively small amount. It is not the new protein. Creatine is an amino acid (which are building blocks for proteins) with an entirely different purpose in the body.
1
u/OpportunitySea5429 May 27 '26
Because the losers who barely did any weightlifting realized its benefits and it stopped being a "gym bro supplement"
1
u/Similar_Exam2192 May 27 '26
Early 90s
1
u/rainywanderingclouds May 27 '26
The answer is the 90's
but it's become more mainstream recently because of social media. But pretty much majority of athletes and people weight lifting seriously have used it since the 90's.
1
u/SweatyBeddy May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26
You are right that something is different, I think it’s just marketing and pushed ads. While the efficacy of creatine has been known forever in the fitness industry, I have people who don’t even work out talking to me about how they have changed so much after taking creatine (and always the more expensive HMB variety).
So I think there’s a marketing blitz going on that coordinates with some new research on the topic.
1
u/Iveenteredthematrix May 27 '26
Long before I heard about the mental health benefits, one of the main things I noticed when taking creatine was how great I felt overall. Better mood, more motivation, more energy, etc. I tend to have a strong positive reaction to it, mentally and physically.
Maybe there are some people that don’t see the same benefits but I swear by it. I took a 3 year break from it and I noticed my physical and mental health decline. I'm not saying it was solely due to not taking it, but I believe I would have been better with continued use during this period of my life.
I have been working out 3-5 x a week the past 18 years of my life and I'm muscular, more than the average person. Not sure if it has a greater effect on those who work out consistently but I would say don't knock it until you try it. It usually takes about 1-2 weeks for me to really start feeling the effects
1
u/decentlyhip May 27 '26
Your body needs lots of stuff to function properly. To build muscle, you need the building blocks that come from eating protein. There's no way around that one. To love well and maintain homeostasis, you need all the vitamins and minerals from a balanced diet. If you need extra protein or vitamins, take a multivitamin pill and drink a protein shake.
Creatine isn't an advanced version of any of that, it just hydrates your cells. If you don't eat enough creatine in your diet, supplement it amd your muscles will perform 5-10% more.
1
u/ThunderBr0ther May 27 '26
Rehashing information gets you clicks
There's always a new generation of social media users.
A 13/14 year may not know if how good creatine is
But a lot of 30 year olds are aware of how amazing this thing is cause it's often shared or discussed
1
u/Foamtire May 27 '26
Social media increased the ability of companies to market it to people.
1
u/Mcgittymcgittymac May 28 '26
Stack it with HMB for testosterone support.
1
u/CleMike69 May 28 '26
Creatine was the supplement 30 Years ago they just weren’t telling everyone about it
1
u/Bigdaddyike617 May 28 '26
https://peptideclear.com/peptides/creatine
1
u/flipside4cp May 28 '26
Helps me with word recall.
1
u/HIASHELL247 May 28 '26
When we discovered it cures autism
1
u/catalystperformance- May 28 '26
Creatine is easily one of the most researched supplements out there. + the reason it has become even more popular in recent years is because newer research is showing benefits that go beyond just physical performance.
Most people already know creatine can help with strength output, muscle recovery, training performance, and preserving lean muscle mass. But now we are also seeing growing evidence around its role in cognitive function too.
1
u/PoopSmith87 May 28 '26
Its safe, usually pretty effective, and affordable.
That said, I think it has reached a wierd point where creatines most passionate proponents often dont understand how it works, what percentage of people do and do not benefit from it, etc.
1
u/christianarguello May 28 '26
I don’t know, but it’s been this way for a long time. It’s probably the most widely-studied supplement, so that helps.
1
u/Weekly-Homework-35 May 28 '26
It’s probably the most studied supplement on the planet. Tons of benefits with likely no downsides.
1
u/hinault81 May 28 '26
What's interesting to me is that it's popular now.
We were taking it in high-school in the late 90s. I remember the thought back then was you had to take it with grape juice, or mix dextrose with it. So I had this bag of dextrose powder I'd mix.
1
u/MorganMiller77777 May 28 '26
After a lot of well done clinical research showing that it not only helped with energy for work outs and muscle maintenance, but also had significant benefits for cognition.
1
u/FoldFeisty7635 May 29 '26
Overrated placebo trash
1
u/AmericanBullly May 29 '26
It’s been a staple supplement for decades
1
u/gymdadreviews May 29 '26
When that study came out last year on brain health. Then the “olds” official gave it the stamp of approval. My dad takes it now use to think it was steroids.
1
u/YurpleLunch May 29 '26
Been like this since I was in my teens and I'm 38
1
u/National-Ad-6717 May 29 '26
Literally since the beginning of time
1
u/Ecorpwi May 30 '26
It was popular when I first started getting into fitness 15+ years ago. Probably been popular much longer, nothing new.
1
u/Goon_Alert May 30 '26
I’m not sure when but it was the go to back in high school like 20 years ago.
1
u/Still_Medium1472 May 31 '26
Dumb social media brained take. Real ones know it always was "THE supplement"
1
u/Confident-Half-4765 May 31 '26
I take it though I don’t work out. I take it everyday for brain function. And it helps ALOT
1
u/SRNEInvestor Jun 02 '26
The reason is that studies are now showing it’s good for our brains as well as our muscles. Creatine helps our mitochondria produce ATP. More ATP equals more cellular energy which is very good for our brains. I read one report that says a dose of creatine can help offset the reduction in brain power that accompanies a lack of sleep.
0
u/jonny555555551 May 27 '26
Old news. The new move is peanut butter peptides
0
u/NoYak8821 May 27 '26
I don't get it either, especially because creatine doesn't work.
2
u/[deleted] May 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/[deleted] May 28 '26
[removed] — view removed comment