Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts seek to improve their training abilities by taking creatine, but many still are deciding whether it is the right way to assist in muscle building and improving fitness abilities.

Brett Schurig started taking creatine almost a year ago and has seen improvement in his workout routine and gained 15 to 20 pounds, most of which is water weight.

"It makes you stronger, not so much bigger," said Schurig, a business management junior.

As an employee at Powerhouse Gym, 435 E. Grand River Ave., Schurig said he recommends taking creatine to anyone interested in bulking up and improving his or her fitness routine.

"I tell them that it is not really proven, and it might not be the best, but it definitely works," Schurig said.

The past 10 years have seen more discussion and examination of creatine by those skeptical of the supplement's benefits.

The most commonly used form of this natural supplement, creatine monohydrate, is found in muscle tissue. When a person ingests additional amounts, increased fitness capability, such as being able to do more reps when weight lifting, has been observed. Creatine helps create more energy, therefore prolonging exercise. With the boost in exercise capability, muscles grow and the muscles' water retention causes weight gain.

According to Patrick Rea, the research director at the Nutrition Business Journal, creatine use is very widespread.

"The 2003 market is predicted to be about a $1.9 billion market in U.S. sports supplements," Rea said.

But two potential side effects, cramping and dehydration, are enough reason to keep many from trying creatine.

"I don't recommend it," said Chris Johnson, a bodybuilding champion and fitness director at the Michigan Athletic Club, 2900 Hannah Blvd. "It is the risk versus reward, and the risk outweighs reward."

Other side effects include stomachaches, dizziness and increased urination.

Another large concern in the professional athletics community is the purity of creatine on the market. While professional sports don't ban this natural substance, athletic trainers, such as MSU football trainer John Monroe, are concerned with the chance of impurities in the supplements.

"If one is caught taking creatine and it has ephedrine in it, the drug test could come back positive," Monroe said. "This is what has led to the change of use patterns with student athletes."

The MSU athletic department does not encourage or recommend the use of the supplement, Monroe said.

"Is it helpful? The jury is still out," he said. "Gaining weight doesn't make you a better athlete; no literature says that it makes them a better player."

Freshman gymnast Jaclyn O'Brien also said she disagrees with the use of supplementation and thinks it takes away from the point of athletics.

"I feel like athletics is about your body - who you are, what condition you are in, not what you are taking," the kinesiology freshman said. "I really don't think that anyone should be involved with them. It is about who you are naturally."

The athletic department does stress the importance of a proper diet and controlling aerobic ability nutritionally, Monroe said.

"The biggest problem is that kids are impatient; growth spurts haven't caught up to their desires," he said. "Younger kids are trying to get an edge against older kids. They need to be patient and eat proper foods."

Rhonda Bokram, a nutritionist at Olin Health Center, said she cautions students about the use of supplements.

"I think that people need to be really clear why they are taking them, what they are taking, all the ingredients - what is on the label isn't always what is in the supplement," she said. "It is always better to eat food. Philosophically and ethically, when you eat food, you know what you are putting in your body."

For athletes, the diet is geared toward high-carbohydrate, low-fat and high-protein foods. Instead of taking creatine supplements, muscle foods that are high in protein, such as tuna and beef, act as a healthier alternative, Monroe said.

But some who feel dieting is not enough for them still turn to dietary supplementation.

"There have been very few adverse events noted, and creatine is generally considered safe for use in healthy individuals at appropriate doses," said Patrick Coates, director of the Office of Dietary Supplements, part of the National Institute of Health. "It has been used for as long as five years without known adverse health effects."

In some cases, use of creatine supplements has demonstrated different effects than muscle mass increase. According to studies performed at two Australian universities, creatine also can affect the energy levels in the brain, increasing general intelligence and working memory. Creatine also has been used to help with congestive heart failure and neuromuscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy.

Weighing the pros and cons are important steps when deciding about supplementation use, but informing oneself is the most important step to take, said John Snyder, owner of Foods for Living, 2655 E. Grand River Ave.

"We help people research health issues when looking at sports products," Snyder said. "A lot of kids come in and want to get the finished, muscular look. They don't separate the bodybuilders out of it."

As a bodybuilder, Johnson is surrounded by people who use supplementation, but he said he is reluctant to support it.

"Everyone wants a quick fix; they want to get bigger, leaner, stronger," Johnson said. "They think this will help them, this is going to be the magic pill."

Laura Collins can be reached at colli313@msu.edu.