Creatine supplementation in high school football players

Objective: To describe creatine supplementation patterns and behaviors asso ciated with creatine supplementation in high school football players. Design: A cross-sectional, multisite, anonymous, descriptive survey was con ducted between October 1999 and February 2000. Setting: 37 public high schools in Wisconsin. Subjects: A total of 1,349 high school football players, grades 9-12. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported prevalence of creatine use, as well as perceived benefits and risks. In addition, sources of information and infl uence regarding creatine supplementation were assessed. Results: 30% of the respondents reported using creatine. Creatine use was l owest in the 9th grade (10.4%) and highest in the 12th grade (50.5%). 41% o f the players at small schools stated they used creatine compared with 29% of the players in large schools. Enhanced recovery following a workout was the most likely perceived benefit of creatine supplementation, while dehydr ation was cited most often as a risk of creatine use. Users were encouraged to take creatine most often by their friends while their parents discourag ed creatine use. Conclusions: Creatine use is widespread in high school football players. Hi gh school football players who use creatine may not be aware of the risks a nd benefits associated with creatine supplementation. Sports medicine profe ssionals who work with this population need to educate athletes, coaches, a nd parents about the use of creatine as a performance-enhancing supplement.