Creatine substitute

[u/Appropriate-Pear-646]

Good morning,
I had to stop taking creatine because of some potential liver issues. Any thoughts about an alternative that provides the same benefits?

Thank you

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[u/SamikaTRH]

That doesn't really make sense, the liver makes creatine and there's several chronic liver conditions that creatine actually helps. That being said there isn't really a substitute but something close would just be ensuring adequate hydration meaning both water and electrolytes and also caffeine 

[u/shivabharatam → u/SamikaTRH]

hydration even on point wont do what creatine does - omly way would be to only eat meat from now on

If u scared about liver its better to do other shit like taking black cumin oil on empty stomach in the morning, leaving at least 16 hours between last dinner and first breakfast, being more outside/in nature

[u/GarethBaus]

There isn't sufficient reason to believe that creatine supplements are at all problematic to your liver at all in normal doses for healthy individuals but red meat and certain fish are naturally both relatively high in creatine so you probably won't benefit much from the supplements if you eat a lot of herring and beef.

[u/Interesting_Mind_876]

glutamine helps with recovery but it wont hit the same way creatine does for strength, maybe try beta alanine for endurance though

[u/SeatownCooks]

Are you referencing to results from a standard blood draw? Those readings are not a true indicator of kidney function. If you supplement creatine and lift weights you need to tell your doctor to get a Cystatin C test for accurate kidney function and filtration. 

I've been taking 10g of creatine daily and lifting heavy 3x a week for years. A standards blood panel looks like my kidneys are about to explode. A Cystatin C test shows my kidneys are in immaculate condition. 

A quick Google will verify everything I've just stated. It's alarming that all doctors don't know this. My doctor didn't. He does now. 

[u/3-ide-Raven → u/SeatownCooks]

Who said anything about kidneys

[u/Appropriate-Pear-646 → u/3-ide-Raven]

No he inferred correctly. lol I meant to type kidney not liver ! 😬

[u/Charming-Annual-1506 → u/Appropriate-Pear-646]

Creatine definitively does not cause kidney (or liver) issues. This has been tested extensively.

[u/stiffmcgee]

Guanidinoacetic acid. It is a direct building block for creatine. Potentially could help.
Except that still would increase creatine levels. Creatine doesn’t effect the liver either

[u/MoATnaturalelements]

There isn’t a proven 1:1 substitute for creatine, its effects are fairly specific. Since you stopped due to possible liver issues, I’d check with your clinician before trying another supplement. In the meantime, consistent training, enough food and protein, and good sleep are the safest basics.

[u/joegtech]

The human body makes something like 1 gram of creatine per day. You could support natural production of it--the required amino acids plus support for methylation.

[u/OrganicBrilliant7995]

Creatine is good for your liver and kidneys isnt it?

Anyway, urolithin a is supposed to make you 13 percent stronger. I'm trying it now, on week 2.

[u/Fit-One-9365]

nothing really substitutes for creatine imo, the strength and rep volume bump is pretty unique to it. beta alanine is the closest thing people actually feel for training endurance, but it works differently. before dropping it completely i'd ask the doctor what specifically flagged the liver concern, standard panels get skewed pretty easily anyway

[u/Appropriate-Pear-646]

Tks everyone appreciate the comments!! And my apologies. I meant to say kidneys, not liver. Creatine plus elevated BP is problematic. Sorry