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Creative alpha-ketoglutarate is experimentally unproven
T. INCLEDON, R. B. KREIDER*
From the Human Performance Specialists, Inc. Plantation, FL, USA
*Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory University of Memphis, TN, USA
Address reprint requests to: T. Incledon, Human Performance Specialists, Inc., 619 NW 90th Terrace, Plantation, FL 33324, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Dear Editor,
A review of creative supplementation was recently authored by Dr. Silber.1 The review attempts to explain some of the potential hazards of creative monohydrate (CM) supplementation by athletes and states that creatine alpha-ketoglutarate (Cr-(alpha)KG) "has been formulated and experimentally proven highly efficient in elite athletes". The term "scientific" is misleading in the title of the article as few facts and mostly speculation were presented regarding creative supplementation. After carefully reviewing this paper, we have several concerns.
In many areas, this paper is highly speculative and not based on current scientific knowledge regarding creative metabolism or the ergogenic value of creatine supplementation. There is no evidence from over 250 creative studies that supports contentions that creative supplementation adversely affects health status or promotes anecdotally reported side effects. Unsubstantiated. media reports should not be cited, as evidence that creative monohydrate supplementation poses health problems. Over the last several years, a number of research studies have been presented and/or published to indicate that creative supplementation does not cause cramping, dehydration, gastrointestinal problems, or increase renal stress. In fact, many of these studies report that creative supplementation may lessen the severity of these conditions (e.g., prevent dehydration, decrease the incidence of injury, etc.). Moreover, evidence from recent long-term safety studies in medical populations and athletes (up to 5 years in duration) indicates that many of these concerns have no physiological or medical merit and that creatine monohydrate supplementation may provide therapeutic benefit in some medical populations.2 3 Although these anecdotally reported concerns continue to be an area of research interest, all available evidence indicates that creatine monohydrate supplementation is safe when taken at recommended dosages.3
The paper cites six references (# 21, 51, 56-59) as evidence that Cr-(alpha)KG has been studied in elite athletes. A careful review of these references reveals that none of them compared Cr-(alpha)KG with CM, as one would expect to see before reading that Cr-(alpha)KG is "proven highly efficient in...