Is creatine safe for breastfeeding mothers?

Understanding Creatine Safety for Breastfeeding Mothers
As the popularity of dietary supplements continues to rise, many new mothers are left wondering about the safety of various products during breastfeeding. One such supplement, creatine, is often associated with athletic performance and muscle recovery. However, its implications for lactating women remain a topic of debate among health professionals.
Limited Research on Lactating Women
Currently, there is a significant lack of comprehensive research specifically addressing the effects of creatine supplementation in breastfeeding mothers. Most studies have not focused on lactating women, leaving many questions unanswered regarding both the benefits and potential drawbacks of creatine use during this critical period.
Creatine Levels in Breast Milk
Research indicates that creatine does pass into breast milk, albeit in relatively low concentrations. For instance, one study found that the average concentration of creatine in breast milk was approximately 25.8 mg/L in mothers just a few days postpartum, decreasing to about 11.5 mg/L in mothers more than two weeks postpartum . This suggests that while creatine is present in breast milk, the levels are not excessively high.
Potential Risks and Recommendations
Despite the presence of creatine in breast milk, the consensus among experts is cautious. Some sources recommend that breastfeeding mothers should avoid creatine supplementation unless specifically prescribed by a healthcare professional. This caution stems from the absence of double-blind placebo-controlled studies that could definitively establish the safety of creatine for both mothers and infants.
Moreover, while creatine is generally considered safe for healthy adults, the implications for infants—especially those with developing kidneys—are not fully understood. It is believed that if the infant has good kidney function, the risks associated with maternal creatine supplementation are minimal. However, the lack of extensive research means that healthcare providers often err on the side of caution.
Conclusion: A Personal Decision
In summary, while creatine is a widely used supplement with a strong safety profile in adults, its use during breastfeeding is not well-studied. Mothers considering creatine supplementation should consult with their healthcare providers to weigh the potential benefits against the uncertainties. Until more definitive research is available, many experts suggest that it may be best to avoid creatine unless there is a clear medical indication for its use.

Who should not take creatine?

Mayo Clinic(1) says, “Don’t take creatine if you have a history of kidney disease or you have conditions such as diabetes that increase the risk of kidney problems. There also is some concern that creatine might increase mania in people who have bipolar disorder.”

Can creatine affect a baby?

23 Taken together, preclinical and observational clinical studies indicate that creatine may be an essential metabolite during pregnancy and that adequate levels of creatine during pregnancy may be critical for optimal fetal growth and survival.

Does creatine cause weight gain?

Research has thoroughly documented that creatine supplements cause a quick increase in body weight. This weight gain, however, is due to an increase in water weight, not fat.

Can a breastfeeding mom take creatine?

Both Citrulline and Creatine are advised against during pregnancy and breastfeeding*. There isn’t enough information out there to know whether or not it’s safe, and high doses passing through breastmilk could potentially have adverse effects.

What is not recommended for breastfeeding?

Medical Contraindications for Breastfeeding
There are a few medical contraindications to breastfeeding, and these include: An infant who has the metabolic disorder of classic galactosemia (galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency). A mother living with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I or type II.

Is it safe to take protein powder while breastfeeding?

Bottom line – yes, protein powders are an extremely convenient way to meet elevated protein body needs during lactation. Just make sure you choose a blend with a high-quality protein base and read all labels in order to avoid dodgy ingredients. We suggest you pass on any protein that contains more than 5.

Does creatine affect your pump?

While muscle pumps don’t necessarily help you out physiologically in terms of building muscle mass, they will help with motivation levels. What creatine does is increase the water volume in your body, since glycogen binds to water when it is stored, so you get a bigger pump.

Why is creatine high in pregnancy?

There is evidence that creatine metabolism is up-regulated in the myometrium during pregnancy [51,53,54,55,56]. Phosphocreatine levels are increased in the human pregnant myometrium at term compared to non-pregnant tissue [55]. This likely acts as an increased energy reserve for the uterus during labor [57].

What supplements should I avoid while breastfeeding?

Dietary Supplements and Herbs to Avoid When Breastfeeding

• Answer: Certain herbals, high dose vitamins, and other dietary supplements can be dangerous to breastfed babies through breast milk.
• Aloe latex.
• Ashwagandha.
• Berberine/goldenseal.
• Bilberry.
• Black cohosh.
• Butterbur.
• Dong quai.

Can I take protein powder while breastfeeding?

Bottom line – yes, protein powders are an extremely convenient way to meet elevated protein body needs during lactation. Just make sure you choose a blend with a high-quality protein base and read all labels in order to avoid dodgy ingredients. We suggest you pass on any protein that contains more than 5.