From the chemist’s nomenclature, the creatine compound is actually called methyl guanidine-acetic acid. Creatine is an organic compound which is composed of three amino acids. These are arginine, glycine, and methionine. Creatine is produced by the human liver. About 95-98% of the produced creatine is brought and stored in the muscles. The rest are distributed in other parts of the body, such as the heart (which is a cardiac muscle), the brain, and the gonads.

Just like many substances in our body, much of the mechanism of how creatine works for the body is still not deciphered by the scientists. But there are theories that attempt to describe the functions of creatine.

First, creatine is thought to help provide more energy for the muscles. Every movement of the muscles utilizes energy. Such energy is taken from an energy molecule called ATP or adenosine triphosphate. And this ATP is produced by the mitochondria, an organelle inside a human cell.

Each time ATP is used, relatively large amounts of energy are released. This energy is captured by the muscles and used for its activities, which can be as mild as stretching or as demanding as weight lifting. When ATP is used, it breaks down into two compounds: an inorganic phosphate and ADP (adenosine di-phosphate). These two resulting compounds have no ability to supply energy.

Creatine, however, can transform the ADP back into ATP. When there is a greater supply of ATP molecules, the muscles will have greater energy.

Another theorized action of creatine has something to do with metabolism. In a normal metabolism, the muscles use oxygen and produces carbon dioxide. But when the muscles strains itself and use up every oxygen available inside, no more carbon dioxide will be produced. Instead, a substance called lactic acid will be produced. This lactic acid is responsible for that burning sensation each time the muscles are overworked. But creatine can help prevent or reduce this burning sensation by hindering or slowing down the production of lactic acid. In other words, creatine can reduce muscle pain even when one is doing a strenuous exercise.

Creatine is also thought to help increase muscle size. This is because the creatine has been observed to pull fluid into the muscle cells. And when more fluid is inside, the larger will be the volume of the muscles. However, the biochemical process for this creatine action is still being studied. Some scientists think that creatine increases the muscle size not because creatine has pulled in more fluids but because creatine aids the body in protein synthesis. And protein synthesis builds up the muscles.

However creatine works, this compound is certainly beneficial to the muscles.