| Creatine 'exerts mild antioxidant activity' |
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Creatine, a favourite of athletes around the world to increase their muscle bulk, may also act as an antioxidant, says new research.
We have shown that exogenously added Creatine, at concentrations comparable to those attainable in plasma upon oral supplementation, exerts direct antioxidant activity in cultured mammalian cells exposed to various oxidizing agents, wrote lead author Piero Sestili from the University degli Studi di Urbino, Italy. The new study, published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine (Volume 40, pages 837-849), found that addition of the Creatine to the cell cultures boosted the percentage survival of cells by more than 20 per cent compared to cells exposed to oxidising agents without Creatine. The researchers note that certain organs in the body, such as the heart and brain, normally have fairly high levels of Creatine, and that these organs are sensitive to oxidative stress. Previous studies have suggested Creatine supplementation to be beneficial in the prevention of various cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Ed. Note: When they think of antioxidants, most people think about fruit, vegetables and vitamins, such as vitamin C. However, this new study shows that Creatine also has antioxidant activity. Studies also show that it has protective effects in heart, muscle and neurological diseases. So, not only does Creatine speed up gains in muscle size and strength, it may also have a beneficial effect on your health! Look for a Creatine product that’s been thoroughly tested and shown to contain no impurities, such as the Creatamax range by Maximuscle. |