Who Makes Creatine? A Look Into Natural and Synthetic Production

While French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul first isolated creatine from meat in 1832, today's understanding reveals that it originates from multiple sources. For anyone asking who makes creatine, the answer is two-fold: it is naturally synthesized within the body and also manufactured synthetically for supplements.

Quick Summary

Creatine is naturally synthesized in the kidneys and liver from amino acids and is found in meat and fish. The vast majority of creatine supplements, however, are produced synthetically in laboratories using a controlled chemical process.

Key Points

• Natural Synthesis: The human body naturally produces creatine in the kidneys and liver from three amino acids: arginine, glycine, and methionine.

• Synthetic Production: Commercial creatine supplements are manufactured synthetically in laboratories using chemical compounds like sarcosine and cyanamide.

• Industry Structure: Raw creatine ingredients are made by specialized chemical manufacturers (like Alzchem) and then sold to supplement brands (like Optimum Nutrition, Transparent Labs) for packaging.

• Creatine Monohydrate: This form is the most researched, effective, and affordable, often considered the industry's gold standard.

• Vegan-Friendly: Because supplements are made synthetically from chemicals, they are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, unlike the creatine found in meat.

• Regulation vs. Approval: The FDA regulates creatine as a dietary supplement by enforcing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) but does not officially 'approve' supplements before they are sold.

• Quality Control: Reputable brands ensure product purity and safety through third-party testing and adherence to GMPs.

The question of who makes creatine is not as simple as pointing to a single company. Creatine, a naturally occurring organic compound, is produced by the human body, but it is also one of the most widely manufactured and consumed dietary supplements in the world. This article will break down the natural biological processes and the large-scale industrial manufacturing responsible for making creatine available to athletes and fitness enthusiasts globally.

The Body's Natural Creatine Production

The human body has its own internal 'factory' for creatine synthesis. This process occurs primarily in the kidneys and liver, with smaller amounts produced in the pancreas. It involves a specific sequence of chemical reactions using three key amino acids as building blocks. Approximately half of a person's daily creatine needs are produced internally, while the rest is typically sourced from the diet.

The Amino Acid Foundation

The synthesis process starts with three amino acids: arginine, glycine, and methionine.

• Glycine and Arginine: In the kidneys, the enzyme arginine:glycine amidinotransferase transfers an amidine group from arginine to glycine, creating guanidinoacetate (GAA).
• Methionine: The GAA then travels to the liver, where another enzyme, guanidinoacetate methyltransferase, adds a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (which is derived from methionine). This final step converts GAA into creatine.

Dietary Sources of Natural Creatine

Before the widespread availability of supplements, dietary intake was the primary method for increasing creatine levels. Creatine is naturally found in animal products, primarily meat and fish.

• Red Meat: One of the richest sources, with examples like beef providing a significant amount.
• Fish: Certain types of fish, such as salmon and herring, contain notable quantities of creatine.
• Poultry: Chicken and other poultry also contribute, though typically in lower concentrations than red meat.

How Creatine Supplements Are Made

Since the amount of creatine naturally found in food is relatively small, it is not an efficient or cost-effective way to get the higher doses required for enhanced athletic performance. This is why most commercial creatine is manufactured synthetically in laboratories. This process ensures high purity, consistent quality, and a vegan-friendly product.

The Synthetic Manufacturing Process

The most common method for producing creatine monohydrate supplements involves combining two chemical compounds:

1. Raw Materials: The process starts with sodium sarcosinate and cyanamide. It is important not to confuse cyanamide with the highly toxic cyanide, as they are entirely different chemical compounds.
2. Reaction: The two raw materials are combined in a large reactor vessel and subjected to heat and pressure to initiate the reaction.
3. Crystallization and Purification: As the mixture cools, creatine crystals form. These crystals are then purified using a centrifuge to spin out and remove any unwanted impurities.
4. Drying and Milling: The purified crystals are vacuum-dried and then milled into a fine powder, typically to a particle size of 200 mesh for better dissolvability.

The Major Players: Manufacturers vs. Brands

Understanding the supplement industry is crucial to answering who makes creatine. There is a distinction between the companies that manufacture the raw creatine ingredients and the brands that package and market the finished products.

Key Raw Creatine Manufacturers

Only a handful of companies worldwide possess the specialized chemical facilities to produce raw creatine ingredients at scale. These manufacturers are the true 'makers' of the compound.

• Alzchem Trostberg GmbH: A prominent German chemical company known for producing Creapure®, a high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade creatine monohydrate. Creapure is often considered the industry's gold standard and is sold to many different supplement brands.
• Other Large-Scale Producers: Other significant producers are located in China and other parts of Asia, manufacturing the bulk raw ingredients for the global market.

Popular Supplement Brands

Most people interact with the supplement brands, which purchase the raw creatine from the manufacturers and then add their own branding and packaging. Many popular brands use high-quality creatine, such as Creapure, to ensure purity.

• Transparent Labs: Known for their Creatine HMB product.
• Optimum Nutrition: A leading sports nutrition brand that sells a popular micronized creatine powder.
• Myprotein: Offers affordable, high-quality creatine options.
• BulkSupplements: Specializes in pure, unflavored powders sold in bulk.

Navigating the Different Types of Creatine

While creatine monohydrate is the most widely studied and effective form, several other types exist on the market, often claiming superior absorption or fewer side effects. However, these claims are not always supported by scientific evidence.

Feature	Creatine Monohydrate	Creatine HCl	Buffered Creatine (Kre-Alkalyn)
Effectiveness	The most researched, proven, and effective form.	Research is limited; not proven more effective than monohydrate.	Studies show no significant advantage over monohydrate.
Purity	Pure form, often available as Creapure (pharmaceutical-grade).	Claims enhanced solubility via bonding with hydrochloric acid.	Contains an alkaline powder to buffer acidity.
Cost	Most affordable and cost-effective option.	Generally more expensive due to processing.	Higher price point due to specialized processing.
Side Effects	Some users may experience bloating, especially during loading phases.	Marketed to cause less bloating and stomach discomfort.	Claims to reduce side effects, but evidence is mixed.

Is Synthetic Creatine Safe and Regulated?

Because creatine is a dietary supplement, it is regulated by the FDA in the United States, but this regulation is different from how pharmaceutical drugs are handled. The FDA does not pre-approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness. Instead, it enforces Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to ensure products are produced in a quality-controlled environment.

For consumers, this means it's essential to choose reputable brands that conduct third-party testing to verify purity and potency. Look for certifications from organizations like NSF International to ensure the product is free from banned substances and contaminants.

Conclusion: The Makers of Modern Creatine

In conclusion, the 'makers' of creatine can refer to two very different processes. The human body is a natural creatine factory, synthesizing it from amino acids in the kidneys and liver. However, the vast majority of creatine consumed for performance enhancement is produced synthetically in large-scale chemical labs by specialized manufacturers such as Alzchem. These raw ingredients are then sold to supplement brands worldwide, who package and market the final product to consumers. For anyone seeking a high-quality, effective, and cost-efficient supplement, creatine monohydrate remains the gold standard, whether synthesized by your body or produced in a lab.

For more information on the efficacy and safety of creatine, visit the NIH National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who manufactures Creapure creatine?

Creapure, a pure form of creatine monohydrate often considered the industry standard, is manufactured by the German chemical company Alzchem Trostberg GmbH.

Is creatine used in supplements natural?

While creatine exists naturally in the body and in animal products, almost all commercial creatine supplements are manufactured synthetically in labs to ensure purity, potency, and scalability.

What is synthetic creatine made from?

Commercial, synthetic creatine is typically produced by combining the chemical compounds sodium sarcosinate and cyanamide in a controlled chemical reaction.

Where is creatine produced in the body?

In the human body, creatine is synthesized primarily in the kidneys and the liver using the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine.

Can you get enough creatine from diet alone?

While creatine is found in red meat and fish, the amounts are too low to meet the needs of athletes seeking to maximize muscle creatine stores for performance. Supplements are a more efficient way to increase levels.

Does the FDA approve creatine supplements?

No, the FDA does not approve dietary supplements like creatine before they are sold. It does, however, regulate them by enforcing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to ensure they are produced safely.

Is supplement creatine vegan?

Yes, synthetically manufactured creatine is vegan-friendly. The process uses non-animal-derived chemical compounds, making it suitable for vegetarians and vegans.