Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? Here’s What the Research Says!

You’ve likely heard about creatine supplements if you are a bodybuilder or an athlete who wants to increase their strength and performance. Creatine helps to build muscle mass by providing short bursts energy. This leads to greater strength and faster movements.

Creatine is gaining in popularity. However, there are concerns about the effects it could have on hair. According to some studies, creatine may accelerate the rate of male pattern hair loss in men. Is taking creatine worth it if you have to pay for bigger muscles with early hair loss?

It’s important to look into the research before you completely dismiss creatine supplements. This article will discuss the current research on hair loss and creatine to help you decide if this supplement is for you.

What is creatine?

 The body produces about half of its creatine in the kidneys, liver and pancreas by using amino acids. The rest of the creatine is obtained from food. Creatine is only found in animal tissues, so it’s only possible to get it by eating seafood and red meat. Vegans and vegetarians must take supplements in order to include creatine in their diet.

When you exercise, the body releases the stored creatine in your muscles. This gives them the energy they need to move. Many people, including athletes and bodybuilders, use creatine supplements to increase the amount of creatine stored in their bodies. This gives the muscles more energy and can improve athletic performance, muscle mass, and strength.

Creatine is taken orally as a powder, tablet or liquid. It is recommended that patients take the supplement along with a meal, especially one that contains fruit and starches. This is because the body will absorb creatine better when taken with carbohydrates.

Who uses creatine supplements and why?

Vegetarians and vegans often take creatine supplements, as they can’t get it from eating red meat or seafood. Athletes who wish to improve their performance and build strength also take them. Creatine supplements can be particularly useful for athletes who do short-duration, high-intensity exercises such as weightlifters or sprinters.

Creatine supplements can also help reduce muscle cramps, and protect the body from injuries of the nerves, tendons and muscles. This is why high intensity strength trainers may use these supplements.

What are the side-effects of taking creatine supplements?

Creatine supplements are generally safe when taken in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer and under the supervision a physician. There are some side effects that may occur:

1. Weight Gain

Creatine supplements allow water to enter the muscle cells. This can cause fluid retention or ‘water-weight’ which may lead to bloating in your arms, legs, and stomach. It can cause issues for athletes competing in a certain weight category.

This extra weight is not fat. The body only gains fat when you consume calories more than you burn. Creatine does not contain calories.

Exercise and drinking plenty of water can help reduce fluid retention.

2. Gastrointestinal distress and diarrhoea

Creatine is not an exception. Many supplements can cause digestive issues and stomach pain when consumed at high doses.

In 2008, a study showed that taking 10g of creatine once daily increased the risk for diarrhoea 56%. To avoid stomach discomfort or diarrhoea, patients are advised to stick with the daily dose of 3-5g.

3. Nausea

You may get sick if take too much at once.

Patients are advised not to consume the supplement on an empty stomach. Instead, they should take it with a meal that is high in carbohydrates.

Who should not take creatine supplements

Creatine is generally safe when taken in the right doses. However, some people should be cautious before taking the supplement.

Patients with kidney problems, for example, should consult their doctor prior to taking creatine supplements. Some studies found that, while creatine had no effect on the kidney function of healthy patients, it could cause kidney damage in those with underlying kidney issues.

If you have high blood pressure, or liver disease, then it is best to avoid creatine supplements unless your doctor advises otherwise.

A medical professional should be consulted before teens begin taking creatine supplements, as research into the effects of creatine in adolescents is limited. Children under 18 should boost their athletic performance through dietary changes (such as adding more protein to their meals), rather than by taking creatine supplements.

Creatine is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers, because it can be harmful to babies.

What causes hair fall?

Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

1. Hereditary causes

A genetic predisposition to baldness, like male pattern baldness, is the most common cause. It is possible that if there has been a family history of hair thinning, you may have inherited the gene.

Some studies, as we will discuss below have shown that men genetically predisposed for male pattern baldness may be triggered by creatine supplements.

2. Hormonal Changes

Hormones can have a major impact on hair strength and health. Hair loss can be a side effect of hormonal fluctuations if you suffer from a thyroid condition, are pregnant or going through menopause.

3. Medication

Some medicines can cause hair loss, including those that treat cancer, arthritis, high blood-pressure, depression or high blood-pressure. It is best to talk with your doctor about the possible side effects of a medication prescribed for a specific condition.

4. Intensive Hair Treatments

Hair loss can be caused by styling your hair in a way which requires excessive heat or strain.

5. Stress

A stressful event or a high level of stress over time can cause the hair follicles to enter a resting stage, which stops hair growth. Over time, hair will start to fall out of the scalp, resulting in baldness or thinning.

Does creatine cause hair loss?

The scientific evidence that supports these claims is thin and contradictory.

In 2009, a study in South Africa confirmed that creatine supplements can cause hair loss among men. Twenty university-aged rugby athletes participated in this study. Some of the participants received a daily dose 25g creatine while the rest were given 50g glucose.

The study showed that after one week the dihydrotestosterone concentration in the bodies of the participants taking creatine supplements increased by 56%. After two more weeks, during which the participants maintained the creatine dosage, the DHT level in the body was still 40% higher than average.

DHT, a hormone that can cause male-pattern baldness among men genetically predisposed to this condition, may increase the risk of hair fall.

It is important to note that rugby players who took creatine supplements had lower baseline DHT levels than average before the experiment started (23 percent lower, in fact). The participants taking creatine supplements did not lose hair during the study, despite the fact that DHT levels were higher. However, the increased concentrations in the body of DHT could lead to hair loss after the study.

These findings are not entirely clear. If creatine supplements increase DHT in the body then they may trigger hair loss among men who use them. The sample size of the experiment was very small (20 men took part) and further data is needed to confirm if creatine really does cause baldness.

One thing is for sure: Creatine supplements don’t cause hair loss. If they cause baldness at all, it is by increasing testosterone levels.

DHT is responsible for hair loss. It is important to look at the relationship between DHT, creatine and hair loss in more detail.

What is the relationship between DHT and hair loss?

DHT and hair loss

Dihydrotestoreone (DHT) is a androgen, which is the scientific term for a sexual hormone. DHT is produced by the body from testosterone, another androgen. During puberty, sex-hormones in men are responsible for the development of male characteristics, such as chest hair, an increased muscle mass, and a deeper voice.

DHT and testosterone trigger these male features. DHT, however, is very potent (about 3 to 6 more powerful than testosterone in fact) and can lead to rapid and early hair fall when produced by the body.

DHT can cause hair loss when it binds to hair follicles in your scalp. The follicles shrink, and in some cases completely seal. The hairs that grow out of the follicle become thinner and weaker, causing thinning on the scalp. The follicle will close completely and hair will stop growing from it, causing baldness.

DHT is most sensitive to the hairs on top of the head, in the crown and hairline area. The hair on the lower half is more resistant to DHT. Patients with male pattern baldness often have a horseshoe pattern of hair on the lower half their heads.

Creatine DHT

A 2009 study found that creatine supplements raised DHT levels in the body. This would seem to suggest that DHT, which can cause baldness, is the culprit behind hair loss.

It is important to note that DHT doesn’t cause hair loss for everyone. The sex-hormone only causes baldness among men with a genetic predisposition to androgenetic (which is a medical term for male-pattern baldness). DHT will not affect your hair growth if you do not have the gene that predisposes to this condition.

No one knows for certain if they are genetically predisposed to androgenetic hair loss. If your family has a history with male pattern baldness, your chances are higher that you will develop the condition. In this case, you may be more susceptible to hair loss from creatine supplements.

The participants of the 2009 study consumed 25g creatine per day, which was significantly more than the daily dose of 3-5g. The manufacturer’s recommended dosage of creatine may not affect your DHT level. There are simply not enough studies to be able to say for certain.

Is it true that creatine can cause hair loss?

The answer to this question can be both yes and no. Evidence suggests that creatine supplements can increase DHT levels in the body. This could lead to hair loss for some men. The key word is’some.’ If you don’t have a genetic disposition for male pattern hair loss, creatine supplements will increase your DHT, but they won’t affect your hair.

The 2009 study was not conclusive in determining if creatine supplements are responsible for hair loss. The experiment tested only 20 men and those who took creatine supplements had already unusually low DHT levels. They were also given a very high dose, making it difficult to determine whether or not the daily recommended dosage of 3-5g will have an effect on DHT levels in the body.

Is it true? There is enough information to dispel the myth that creatine supplements can cause hair loss. However, this evidence isn’t conclusive enough to be certain.