A recent review of creatine and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, found quality issues with 36% of the products examined. Such ingredients have become popular in helping athletes meet their fitness goals, as well as supporting those with muscular diseases or recovering from injuries.
 
However, three of the creatine supplements reviewed were found to contain unacceptable levels of creatine breakdown compounds, and two of these products provided only minute levels of creatine. In addition, the BCAA “blends” in some products were found to consist mainly of compounds other than BCAAs, with only 5% to 10% of listed amounts being BCAAs.
 
Tod Cooperman, M.D., president of ConsumerLab.com, remarked that, “It can be very difficult for people to know what they are getting from muscle enhancement supplements.” He encouraged consumers to be cautious and suggested, “It is important to read labels carefully and be skeptical of contents unless verified by a third party.”
 
ConsumerLab.com also found the price of the products to vary widely. The lowest cost to get the equivalent of 5 grams of high-quality creatine monohydrate from a supplement was 9 cents, and for 5 grams of BCAAs it was 31 cents, while the cost was well over $1 to get these same ingredients from some other products.
 
ConsumerLab.com selected eleven supplements for the study, and eight supplements passed its voluntary Quality Certification Program. Two products similar to one that passed testing are also identified. Products covered in the report are Betancourt Nutrition Chewies, BIORhythm AfterGlow, Body Fortress Super Advanced Creatine, BodyTech 100% Pure Creatine Monohydrate, Dymatized Nutrition BCAA Complex 5050, EAS Phos HP, Life Extension Branched Chain Amino Acids, MET-Rx BCAA 2200, MRM BCAA+G, Muscle Marketing USA ATP Creatine Serum, Muscle Marketing USA Endurus Runners Serum, MusclePharm Creatine, Myology BCAA 2200, ON Micronized Creatine Powder, Precision Engineered BCAA 2200, Six Star Pro Nutrition Creatine X3, Solgar BCAA Plus, Ultimate Nutrition 100% Crystalline BCCA, Vitacost ARO Black Series Amino Plus, Vitacost Creatine, and VPX Creatine Plasma.
 
The report also provides information about the uses, dosage, and potential side effects of creatine and BCAAs and explains differences among forms of these ingredients, such as creatine monohydrate, creatine AKG, dicreatine malate, and KreAlkalyn.