Creatine beyond sports

CREATINE has attracted a huge following among athletes for its purported ability to improve sports performance, with even Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs acknowledging they’ve used creatine supplements. This amino acid, which is produced naturally in the liver, kidneys and pancreas, also is found in meat and fish.  

Because creatine helps muscle cells store energy, athletes often take supplements in an effort to “load” the muscles with it. Studies have shown that the extra creatine can slightly improve athletic performance in sports requiring bursts of activity.