Who is the Founder of Creatine?

November 28, 2025 •

2 min read

Creatine was first discovered in 1832 by a French scientist, Michel Eugène Chevreul, who isolated it from a water-extract of skeletal muscle. However, the journey from its initial isolation to its modern use as a popular sports supplement is a story spanning over 150 years and involving other key researchers.

Quick Summary

This article details the early scientific history of creatine, identifying French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul as its initial discoverer in 1832. It also highlights the contributions of other scientists who further understood its role in muscle metabolism.

Key Points

Initial Discoverer: French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul isolated creatine from meat in 1832 and named it from the Greek word 'kreas'.
Early Research: German scientist Justus von Liebig further studied creatine in 1847, observing its concentration was higher in wild animals compared to captive ones, suggesting a link to muscle activity.
Physiological Understanding: Early 20th-century studies revealed that the body stores creatine as creatine phosphate, a quick-release energy source for intense exercise.
Commercialization: Creatine gained mainstream popularity after the 1992 Olympics, with the first commercial supplement introduced by EAS in 1993.
Modern Status: Thanks to decades of research by many scientists, creatine is recognized today as a safe and effective performance-enhancing supplement.

The Initial Discovery by Michel Eugène Chevreul

In 1832, French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul successfully isolated a new organic constituent from meat. He named this white, crystalline substance "creatine," derived from the Greek word for flesh, 'κρέας' (kreas). This discovery was the first identification of this compound, which naturally occurs in vertebrate muscle.

Advancing Research with Justus von Liebig

German scientist Justus von Liebig furthered creatine research in 1847 by confirming its presence as a regular component of flesh. His comparative studies revealed higher creatine concentrations in the muscle tissue of wild animals versus captive ones, suggesting a connection between muscle work and creatine levels.

Early Twentieth-Century Revelations

Research in the early 1900s clarified how the body handles ingested creatine, noting it is largely retained.

1912: Harvard researchers showed that creatine ingestion increased muscle creatine content.
1920s: Scientists discovered that energy is stored in muscle cells as creatine phosphate (phosphocreatine) at rest, ready for quick use during intense exercise.
1926: An early human trial confirmed that creatine administration increased muscle creatine.

The Rise of Modern Supplementation

Creatine became widely known after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when several athletes were reported users. This led to the first commercial creatine supplement, Phosphagen, launched in 1993 by EAS. Today, creatine is extensively researched and recognized for enhancing strength and muscle mass.

Key Milestones in Creatine's History


Year	Scientist(s)	Contribution to Creatine Research
1832	Michel Eugène Chevreul	First isolated creatine from meat and named it.
1847	Justus von Liebig	Confirmed creatine's presence in meat and linked muscle activity to its concentration.
1912	Otto Folin & Willey Glover Denis	Showed that creatine ingestion could increase muscle creatine content.
1920s	Various Scientists	Discovered that creatine phosphate acts as an energy store in muscles.
1992	Olympic Athletes	Brought creatine to public attention after reports of use at the Barcelona Olympics.
1993	Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS)	Introduced the first commercial creatine supplement, Phosphagen.

The Journey from Lab to Locker Room

Creatine's evolution from a scientific finding by Chevreul to a popular supplement involved contributions from Liebig and early 20th-century metabolic research. Its commercialization in the 1990s was a key factor in its current status as a widely used, safe, and effective performance-enhancing supplement.

Conclusion

Michel Eugène Chevreul discovered and isolated creatine in 1832, making him its founder. However, the work of Justus von Liebig, early 20th-century scientists, and its commercial introduction in the 1990s were all crucial in establishing creatine's importance and widespread use today. Its benefits for high-intensity exercise and muscle function are well-documented.

Authoritative Link: National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Evolving Applications of Creatine Supplementation

Frequently Asked Questions

Creatine was discovered, not invented. It is an organic compound that is naturally present in the skeletal muscle of vertebrates, including humans. It was first isolated and identified from meat in 1832.

Michel Eugène Chevreul was a French chemist and philosopher who lived from 1786 to 1889. He is credited with the initial discovery and isolation of creatine from skeletal muscle in 1832.

Justus von Liebig was a German chemist who confirmed creatine's existence in meat in 1847. He also observed that wild animals had higher creatine levels, leading to the conclusion that muscle activity influences its concentration.

Creatine gained widespread public attention as a sports supplement in the early 1990s, particularly after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when several medal-winning athletes were reported to have used it.

Michel Eugène Chevreul derived the name “creatine” from the Greek word for flesh, 'κρέας' (kreas), after isolating the compound from meat.

Yes, creatine remains one of the most relevant and scientifically validated sports supplements today. Extensive research confirms its efficacy for improving high-intensity exercise performance, strength, and lean body mass.

Yes. Beyond the initial isolation by Chevreul, other scientists contributed to the early understanding of creatine. For example, researchers like Otto Folin, Willey Glover Denis, and Alfred Chanutin conducted studies in the early 20th century to understand its storage and retention in the body.