Our take

Generally safe

Creatine might benefit athletes who need short bursts of speed or increased muscle strength, such as sprinters, weight lifters and team sport athletes.

While taking creatine might not help all athletes, evidence suggests that it generally won't hurt if taken as directed.

Although an older case study suggested that creatine might worsen kidney dysfunction in people with kidney disorders, creatine doesn't appear to affect kidney function in healthy people.