In October, the Brazilian Association of Nutritional Products Companies (Abenutri) published a report disapproving 18 brands sold in Brazil, due to the discrepancy between the creatine content stated on the label and the actual amount present in the product.
Brazilian legislation allows a maximum variation of up to 20% of the amount of creatine specified on the label. Therefore, the product must be at least 80% pure. The research analyzed a total of 88 products. Of the 18 rejected brands, 10 showed a variation of 100%, that is, they contained other substances instead of creatine. Among the 10 brands, five belong to the same manufacturer.
According to Lorena Lima Amato, endocrinologist and doctor from the University of São Paulo (USP), components such as sugar, carbohydrates and salts can be added to creatine to lower the cost of the supplement. However, this addition can pose health risks, such as increased blood sugar levels, side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, as well as allergic reactions.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to warning signs that creatine may not be pure. Accurate detection of supplement adulteration is only done in the laboratory, but home tests can help raise suspicion. See how below:
1. See the appearance
“Creatine is white like sugar, it looks like refined sugar. So, if the creatine you are using has a lumpy appearance, a yellowish or darker color, this should draw attention to the suspicion that it is not creatine”, advises Amato.
2. Test the dilution
Pure creatine is partially soluble in water, which means it does not dissolve quickly, but it also does not form droplets or float in water. “If you put it in water and it looks like this, there may be another component,” says the endocrinologist.
3. Add vinegar to water
It is also valid to add vinegar to the water and then add creatine. If it bubbles, there may be other components in the product, such as sodium bicarbonate, for example.
It is also worth remembering that creatine has no flavor. So, if you notice that the supplement tastes sweet, for example, some type of sugar may have been added to increase the volume of the product.
This content was originally published in How do you know if creatine is adulterated? See home test on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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