Creatine and Hair Loss: Do Supplements Cause Baldness?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s the Link?Side EffectsCreatine Products and DosagePrecautionsCauses of Hair Loss

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What’s the Link?

Side Effects

Creatine Products and Dosage

Precautions

Causes of Hair Loss

Creatineis a substance that occurs naturally in the body. It can also be consumed, typically in meat and fish.Creatine supplementsare available, with one study linking creatine supplement use to hair loss. Yet no other study that examinedcreatineand hair loss found that creatine causes hair loss, and the evidence suggests the link does not exist.

Athletes most commonly use creatine because of the popular belief that it can helpincrease strengthor improve athletic performance. However, evidence to support this claim also is inconclusive and sometimes contradictory.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

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creatine powder

Creatine and DHT: What’s the Link?

Because of the link between DHT and hair loss, this study led to a theory that creatine supplementation could causehair loss.

However, this study had a number of flaws. For example:

By early 2021, 12 other studies examining the effects of creatine supplementation on testosterone had not replicated the results of the 2009 study. The research included:

No study has reported hair loss in humans with creatine supplementation, and the current body of evidence does not support a link between creatine supplementation and hair loss or balding.

Creatine supplements may cause muscle water retention, leading to weight gain for some people.

Most research shows significant side effects are uncommon at the doses used for up to six months, but some side effects, particularly with long-term use, may include:

To find the creatine dosage that is right for you, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. How much to take and when depends on your goals and personal characteristics.

An example of a loading dose for adult athletes age 19 and older may be 5 grams (g) of creatine monohydrate taken four times daily (20 g total for the day) for a maximum of two to five days. A maintenance dose for an adult athlete 19 years old and up may be 2 g daily.

Supplements are typically sold as powders but may come in forms such as:

Creatine may be better absorbed when taken with carbohydrates such as fruit (including juices) and starches.

The most commonly studied form of creatine is creatine monohydrate.Other forms of creatine include creatine HCL and buffered creatine.

Creatine supplements are popular among athletes who believe it will help withstrength-buildingand performance in sports. There is no conclusive evidence that supplementing with creatine will accomplish this goal.

It’s important to discuss creatine supplement use with a healthcare provider, rather than on the advice of friends or teammates.What may be safe and effective for one person may change for someone else.Be sure to consider that:

Little is known about creatine’s effects on body systems or how it might interact with medications and other supplements (including vitamins), or caffeine and products such as energy drinks. Talk to your healthcare provider about creatine use, especially if you take:

What Does Cause Hair Loss?

Hair loss, also calledalopecia, can be categorized as either scarring (permanent loss of hair follicle) or the more common nonscarring type.Nonscarring alopecia is classified as:

Summary

Although a 2009 study found that creatine supplementation caused an increase in DHT, leading to a theory that creatine supplements could cause hair loss, the results have not been replicated. Current research does not support a link between creatine supplementation and hair loss.

The effects of creatine supplementation and how it may interact with medical conditions, medications, and other areas are not well-known. Side effects may include weight gain due to water retention, gastrointestinal symptoms, and muscle cramps. Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking creatine supplements.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al.Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2021;18(1):13. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00412-wAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Creatine supplements.Mount Sinai.Creatine.Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al.International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0173-zWalter K.Common causes of hair loss. JAMA. 2022;328(7):686-686. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.12461American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss: who gets and causes.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al.Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2021;18(1):13. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00412-wAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Creatine supplements.Mount Sinai.Creatine.Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al.International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0173-zWalter K.Common causes of hair loss. JAMA. 2022;328(7):686-686. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.12461American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss: who gets and causes.

Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al.Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2021;18(1):13. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00412-wAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Creatine supplements.Mount Sinai.Creatine.Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al.International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0173-zWalter K.Common causes of hair loss. JAMA. 2022;328(7):686-686. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.12461American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss: who gets and causes.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Creatine supplements.

Mount Sinai.Creatine.

Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al.International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine.J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z

Walter K.Common causes of hair loss. JAMA. 2022;328(7):686-686. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.12461

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss: who gets and causes.

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Creatine and DHT: What’s the Link?#

What Does Cause Hair Loss?#

Summary#

Creatine and DHT: What’s the Link?

What Does Cause Hair Loss?

Summary