December 18, 1997
Contact: Moira Saucer; (202) 872-1488
CRN RESPONDS TO NEWS STORIES ABOUT CREATINE
Three wrestlers have died within the past few months while attempting substantial last-minute weight loss through forced dehydration prior to a match, in order to fit into a lower weight class. All three were exercising in extreme conditions, and two were wearing rubber suits. One was exercising in a hot shower, one was alternately exercising in a 92 degree room and using a sauna, and one had exercised to exhaustion while drinking no fluids.
Dr. William J. Kraemer, director of research at the Center for Sports Medicine at Penn State, said these unsound and deplorable weight loss practices have plagued wrestling for many years, and are also encountered in other sports and in military training.
Because the wrestlers were also using various nutritional supplements, the media have raised the question of whether the supplements are related to the deaths. The only supplement that has been specifically identified as being used by one of the wrestlers is creatine. Creatine is a substance that helps provide energy for the muscle. It is present in all meats and in human muscle. There is no evidence whatsoever to link the creatine supplement or any other supplement to these deaths, and the media implications of a link are irresponsible and not supported by evidence.
An FDA official in the Office of Special Nutritionals said today that FDA is investigating the deaths in order to determine whether there is any possible association with any food or supplement the athletes were taking, but that FDA has no information at this time to suggest an association.
Dr. Kraemer told USA Today that creatine is used by many athletes, and that in some 1996 Olympic events "you probably couldn't find anyone who wasn't on
creatine unless they were completely uninformed." He said studies have shown that creatine supplementation can enhance athletic performance by 5 to 10%.
"I think jumping to the conclusion that supplements are the cause is irresponsible. Supplement use is very common in sport," said Ann C. Grandjean, Ed.D., director, International Center for Sports Nutrition, and clinical assistant professor, Sports Medicine Division, University of Nebraska Medical School. She added that "Creatine has been widely used in the United States for over three years, and in Europe for close to 10 years."
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