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Punked on Creatine Ethyl Ester!

future

future

Freelance Writer
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Punked on Creatine Ethyl Ester!

By Eric Marchewitz B.S.

Creatine Ethyl Ester has been proven in at least two studies to not be as effective as simple creatine monohydrate and creatine salts like creatine malate. Sadly, this ingredient was pushed upon all of us and sold as the "next best thing", yet creatine ethyl ester has been again debunked as a inferior form of creatine.

Good creatine monohydrate is best along with creatine salts like "creatine citrate, creatine orotate, creatine malate". The latest 2009 study reported "In conclusion, when compared to creatine monohydrate, creatine ethyl ester was not as effective at increasing serum and muscle creatine levels or in improving body composition, muscle mass, strength, and power." So, creatine ethyl ester isn't even implicated in improving muscle creatine levels. Buyer beware creatine ethyl ester products.
 
Creatine ethyl ester rapidly degrades to creatinine in stomach acid

Child R1 and Tallon MJ2

1Department of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon-Thames, United Kingdom. 2University of Northumbria, Sport Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, [email protected]

Creatine ethyl ester (CEE) is a commercially available synthetic creatine that is now widely used in dietary supplements. It comprises of creatine with an ethyl group attached and this molecular configuration is reported to provide several advantages over creatine monohydrate (CM). The Medical Research Institute (CA, USA) claim that the CEE in their product (CE2) provides greater solubility in lipids, leading to improved absorption. Similarly San (San Corporation, CA, USA) claim that the CEE in their product (San CM2 Alpha) avoids the breakdown of creatine to creatinine in stomach acids. Ultimately it is claimed that CEE products provide greater absorption and efficacy than CM. To date, none of these claims have been evaluated by an independent, or university laboratory and no comparative data are available on CEE and CM.

This study assessed the availability of creatine from three commercial creatine products during degradation in acidic conditions similar to those that occur in the stomach. They comprised of two products containing CEE (San CM2 Alpha and CE2) and commercially available CM (Creapure?). An independent laboratory, using testing guidelines recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), performed the analysis. Each product was incubated in 900ml of pH 1 HCL at 37? 1oC and samples where drawn at 5, 30 and 120 minutes. Creatine availability was assessed by immediately assaying for free creatine, CEE and the creatine breakdown product creatinine, using HPLC (UV)

After 30 minutes incubation only 73% of the initial CEE present was available from CE2, while the amount of CEE available from San CM2 Alpha was even lower at only 62%. In contrast, more than 99% of the creatine remained available from the CM product. These reductions in CEE availability were accompanied by substantial creatinine formation, without the appearance of free creatine. After 120minutes incubation 72% of the CEE was available from CE2 with only 11% available from San CM2 Alpha, while more than 99% of the creatine remained available from CM.

CEE is claimed to provide several advantages over CM because of increased solubility and stability. In practice, the addition of the ethyl group to creatine actually reduces acid stability and accelerates its breakdown to creatinine. This substantially reduces creatine availability in its esterified form and as a consequence creatines such as San CM2 and CE2 are inferior to CM as a source of free creatine.
 
If you guys want me to debunk Kre-Alkalyn for you, I'd be happy to.
 
Kre-alkalyn? supplementation has no beneficial effect on creatine-to-creatinine conversion rates.

Tallon MJ1 and Child R2

1University of Northumbria, Sport Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 2Department of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon-Thames, United Kingdom. [email protected]

All American Pharmaceutical and Natural Foods Corp. (Billings, MT, USA) claim that Kre-alkalyn? (KA) a ?Buffered? creatine, is 100% stable in stomach acid and does not convert to creatinine. In contrast, they also claim that creatine monohydrate (CM) is highly pH labile with more than 90% of the creatine converting to the degradation product creatinine in stomach acids. To date, no independent or university laboratory has evaluated the stability of KA in stomach acids, assessed its possible conversion to creatinine, or made direct comparisons of acid stability with CM.

This study examined whether KA supplementation reduced the rate of creatine conversion to creatinine, relative to commercially available CM (Creapure?). Creatine products were analyzed by an independent commercial laboratory using testing guidelines recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Each product was incubated in 900ml of pH 1 HCL at 37? 1oC and samples where drawn at 5, 30 and 120 minutes and immediately analyzed by HPLC (UV) for creatine and creatinine.

In contrast to the claims of All American Pharmaceutical and Natural Foods Corp., the rate of creatinine formation from CM was found to be less than 1% of the initial dose, demonstrating that CM is extremely stable under acidic conditions that replicate those of the stomach. This study also showed that KA supplementation actually resulted in 35% greater conversion of creatine to creatinine than CM. In conclusion the conversion of creatine to creatinine is not a limitation in the delivery of creatine from CM and KA is less stable than CM in the acid conditions of the stomach.
 
Tossed my CEE aside, picked up some micronized monohydrate.
One thing I notice is the Mono has no taste at all, but the pure CEE taste makes me want to puke.
 
Gawd said:
Tossed my CEE aside, picked up some micronized monohydrate.
One thing I notice is the Mono has no taste at all, but the pure CEE taste makes me want to puke.
Click to expand...

CEE tastes like battery acid.
 
Since we're talking about Creatine. Can anyone guess which product is sold as a creatine without any actual creatine in it? (not CEM3)
 
Gawd said:
I seen COP advertised as a new creatine before.
Click to expand...

Doesn't make it creatine. Not to mention, creatine isn't stable in water for extended periods of time, at least not long enough for a product to be sitting on a shelf and then be sold to a customer.
 
cal62887 said:
Doesn't make it creatine. Not to mention, creatine isn't stable in water for extended periods of time, at least not long enough for a product to be sitting on a shelf and then be sold to a customer.
Click to expand...

in water?
What product is this?

I was talking about Creatinol-O-Phosphate, which is added into No Shotgun, Muscle Prime, Creadex, etc.
 
Gawd said:
in water?
What product is this?

I was talking about Creatinol-O-Phosphate, which is added into No Shotgun, Muscle Prime, Creadex, etc.
Click to expand...

Well Creatine Monohydrate, just as any creatine will, denature in water.... especially if it's in the solution for extended periods of time.

COP is not creatine. Similar structure to creatine, but doesn't act similarly once ingested.
 
cal62887 said:
Well Creatine Monohydrate, just as any creatine will, denature in water.... especially if it's in the solution for extended periods of time.

COP is not creatine. Similar structure to creatine, but doesn't act similarly once ingested.
Click to expand...

Yup. Was just a little confused about the creatine in water thing, but I just did a quick search. You mean products like VPX Bang?

I was wondering about those products before, good to know its a bad idea.
 
Gawd said:
Yup. Was just a little confused about the creatine in water thing, but I just did a quick search. You mean products like VPX Bang?

I was wondering about those products before, good to know its a bad idea.
Click to expand...

Exactly. COP is not creatine and creatine cannot stay in water for extended periods of time.
 
“Child R1 and Tallon MJ2

1Department of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon-Thames, United Kingdom. 2University of Northumbria, Sport Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, [email protected]

Creatine ethyl ester (CEE) is a commercially available synthetic creatine that is now widely used in dietary supplements. It comprises of creatine with an ethyl group attached and this molecular configuration is reported to provide several advantages over creatine monohydrate (CM). The Medical Research Institute (CA, USA) claim that the CEE in their product (CE2) provides greater solubility in lipids, leading to improved absorption. Similarly San (San Corporation, CA, USA) claim that the CEE in their product (San CM2 Alpha) avoids the breakdown of creatine to creatinine in stomach acids. Ultimately it is claimed that CEE products provide greater absorption and efficacy than CM. To date, none of these claims have been evaluated by an independent, or university laboratory and no comparative data are available on CEE and CM.

This study assessed the availability of creatine from three commercial creatine products during degradation in acidic conditions similar to those that occur in the stomach. They comprised of two products containing CEE (San CM2 Alpha and CE2) and commercially available CM (CreapureÒ). An independent laboratory, using testing guidelines recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), performed the analysis. Each product was incubated in 900ml of pH 1 HCL at 37± 1oC and samples where drawn at 5, 30 and 120 minutes. Creatine availability was assessed by immediately assaying for free creatine, CEE and the creatine breakdown product creatinine, using HPLC (UV)

After 30 minutes incubation only 73% of the initial CEE present was available from CE2, while the amount of CEE available from San CM2 Alpha was even lower at only 62%. In contrast, more than 99% of the creatine remained available from the CM product. These reductions in CEE availability were accompanied by substantial creatinine formation, without the appearance of free creatine. After 120minutes incubation 72% of the CEE was available from CE2 with only 11% available from San CM2 Alpha, while more than 99% of the creatine remained available from CM.

CEE is claimed to provide several advantages over CM because of increased solubility and stability. In practice, the addition of the ethyl group to creatine actually reduces acid stability and accelerates its breakdown to creatinine. This substantially reduces creatine availability in its esterified form and as a consequence creatines such as San CM2 and CE2 are inferior to CM as a source of free creatine.

Supported by Cr-Technologies, LLP, London, England”
 
Creatine Ethyl Ester…Reviewing the Literature
Creatine ethyl ester is not a stable molecule in a nuetral pH environment like water. This is why those who originally applied for patenting rights were denied because there was no evidence to disprove it’s high conversion rate into creatinine.




Creatine Ethyl Ether James D. Mold, Robert C. Gore, Joseph M. Lynch, E. J. Schantz. J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 1955; 77(1); 178-180.

Hype sells to the masses and it’s a shame it cast one of the most studied and proven ergogenic aides in a negative spotlight, creatine monohydrate. Here is what initially tipped me off to the CEE hype parade:
Originally Posted by deserusan
<strong />
Analysis


Over the past few years I have payed a lot of attention to supplement trends as my level of interest in competitave natural bodybuilding has grown. Competing naturally requires a lot of research into what supplements are legal and what is not by whatever federation you choose to compete in. One of the best supplements out there is creatine monohydrate and their are numerous studies supporting it’s efficacy. However, one recent trend I have witnessed is companies and young aspiring bodybuilders touting the superiority of creatine ethyl ester over creatine monohydrate.
Creatine ethyl ester is merely creatine monohydrate with an added ester attached to make the creatine molecule more lipopholic. In theory, this would make the absorption more efficient and possibly would require less CEE to serve as an ergogenic aid.

Personally, I have used both CEE and monohydrate with great success. However, the recomended doses of CEE (2.5 grams) never seemed to have the same effect as the recommended dose of monohydrate (5.0 grams). To me this seemed a little odd considering the claims of most CEE products. When I started to experiment with higher doses of CEE (5 grams) I noticed similiar effects to that of monohydrate at the equivalent dose. Something wasn’t adding up here.

Upon further reading on monohydrate, because no ethyl ester studies exist, I came across one that studied the physiological differences between monohydrate responders and non responders. This intrigued me because it actually shows that monohydrate isn’t inefficient given a certain set of physiological values with regards to pre-existing creatine and phosphocreatine levels in muscles, muscle fiber cross-sectional areas (CSA), the prevalanace of type II muscle fibers, and the amount of fat free mass.

Type II muscle fibers are also called fast twitch muscle fibers. Olympic sprinters may have up to 80% fast twitch fibers while a marathon runner may have up to 80% type I fibers (slow twitch). Both fiber types produce the same force but type II can fire more rapidly, hence the name fast twitch. Based on the the study I was referring to it appears those with a high type II fiber % respond well to creatine monohyrate and much more efficiently to those with a type I fiber %.

Also, it appears that those with larger muscle fiber (CSA) and fat free mass percentages are also better monohydrate responders. This means that if you have a high bodyfat percentage you might not respond well to monohydrate or if you have low muscle mass. Also, if you have smaller muscles in general you might not respond well.

For someone like myself, I do have a high percentage of fat free mass and therefore I respond well to creatine monohydrate. Also, I require the same amount of CEE to have the same ergogenic effects as monohydrate. I feel some companies have been pushing CEE a little too hard and have been addressing some of it’s shortfalls for those who might not respond well, like me, by telling the consumer to take another dose.

It is my recommendation that any consumer out there interested in creatine supplementation try using the more basic form of creatine first, which is monohydrate. It is the only form of creatine that has been studied extensively and proven. CEE is a good choice for those who don’t fit the physiological criteria stated above, however for general purposes, it is not “better” than monohydrate as many companies would lead you to believe.


Syrotuik DG, Bell GJ.Acute creatine monohydrate supplementation: a descriptive physiological profile of responders vs. nonresponders. Journal of Strength Conditioning Research. 2004 Aug;18(3):610-7.
Bizzarini E, De Angelis L. Is the use of oral creatine supplementation safe? J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2004 Dec;44(4):411-6.
 
Future, check the first page for the studies I posted. Tallon is a great researcher and I posted that same study on the first page.

You can also find another study on Kre-Alk
 
Gawd said:
There some write ups about it posted above. Basically, same outcome as CEE.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I missed that first... Looks like a good combo of mono nnd magnesium creatine chelate shall do. Looks like Green Magnitude could be a cool creatine combo for really cheap
 
I love creatine monohydrate.. never found a need for anything else since i dont bloat and a pound costs me like 12 bucks.
 
Burpees said:
I love creatine monohydrate.. never found a need for anything else since i dont bloat and a pound costs me like 12 bucks.
Click to expand...

Exactly.


If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
So what's everyones thoughts on the best for Increasing absorption of Creatine Mono?
I've been throwing Honey in my Post-Workout shake for the insulin spike which I believe increases absorption of Creatine.

I need something to throw in my pre-workout drink though, I don't really feel like adding honey to it.
Not sure what to add, Dextrose? Waxy-Maize? One of those blend products?
 
Greetings to All,

The study comparing ethyl ester and monohydrate forms seemed very clear and unquestionable until I read the one comparing monohydrate to Kre Alkalyn. What puzzled me is that Kre Alkalyn is simply creatine monohydrate mixed with a couple of alkalinizing ( anti-acid) substances. The formula is patented but not secret. Check out <http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6399661.html>. The supposedly embarrassing revelatory study is really only comparing monohydrate to monohydrate plus a couple of buffers/fillers. The odd result of this CM vs. KA study makes me question the authority of the first study - CEE vs. CM. It would be unwise to so quickly dismiss Kre Alkalyn or ethyl ester until there is independent replication of these results. As long as we are mindful of the potential for placebo effects, our experiece as users is just as important as a laboratory assay. The people who claim to notice differences between the formulas are not necessarily imagining things and have not necessarily been "punked."
 
creatine mono with glucose is all i will ever use. it works perfectly.
 
im using creatine malate which is the creatine in Controlled Labs Green Magnitude. i love it and am seeing good results
 
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