{
  "id": 7250148,
  "title": "WELLNESS: Creatine: What works, what might work, and what is still unproven",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/wellness-creatine-what-works-what-might-work-and-what-is-still",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T05:38:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-14-creatine-what-works-what-might-work-and-what-is-still-unproven/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Creatine, primarily known for enhancing athletic performance, has garnered attention for its potential benefits beyond the gym. This supplement, extensively studied, may also support brain health, longevity, and disease resistance. Once considered a staple among bodybuilders and elite athletes, recent interest has expanded to include activities requiring short bursts of power, such as sprinting, football, tennis, and squash.\n\nNick Bester, a prominent South African endurance athlete, began using creatine in the early 1990s. Initially popular among bodybuilders and weightlifters, he found improvements in his performance and strength. However, weight gain occurred when he reduced his daily intake. Nowadays, Bester recommends smaller doses to certain athletes to enhance training quality and race performance, though he stresses that it's merely one component of a comprehensive fitness regimen.\n\nAt the professional level, creatine's role varies. Akani Simbine, a South African sprinter, uses it to maintain strength and muscle, particularly in the explosive movements crucial for sprinting. His diet, tailored by a sports nutritionist, includes a balanced mix of vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates, with adjustments as competition approaches.\n\nExperts agree that while creatine's performance-enhancing effects are well-documented for short-duration, high-intensity activities, it's most effective when combined with proper nutrition, training, and recovery. Dr. Lervasen Pillay, a sports medicine physician, emphasizes that creatine complements, rather than substitutes, these elements. Thus, while creatine may offer benefits, it should be part of a holistic approach to health and fitness.",
  "summary": "Think creatine is just for gym-goers? While algorithms love pushing the latest wellness trends, research suggests this extensively studied supplement may hold key benefits for brain health, longevity and disease support.",
  "key_points": [
    "Creatine enhances athletic performance in short-duration, high-intensity activities.",
    "Nick Bester recommends smaller doses to improve training quality and race performance.",
    "Creatine complements proper nutrition, training, and recovery for optimal health benefits."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Creatine's expanding use beyond athletic performance into brain health, longevity, and disease resistance underscores its growing recognition as a supplement that supports overall health when combined with proper nutrition and training.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}