Creatine is a substance which is found naturally within the body and is primarily used to increase the muscle energy, endurance, strength and lean muscle mass. Every time the body performs any form of intense exercise, such as sprinting, jumping, or lifting weights explosively the body uses its Creatine stores to provide the energy. Unfortunately, the natural stores of Creatine within the body only last for a maximum of around 10 seconds. It then needs about 1 minute to replenish stores again. This is the reason the body can’t exercise or sprint for very long periods, because Creatine becomes depleted.
 

In the production of energy, the body uses three main energy systems. Creatine plays a huge part in the first system, the Alactic Anaerobic energy pathway also known as the ATP/ PCr System. What this basically means is this system does not use or create lactate which can be responsible for hindering muscle activity, and this system does not use Oxygen. Instead, the main substances used are ATP or Adenosine Tri Phosphate and Phospho-Creatine. In this system ATP, which is stored in muscle is broken down to ADP or Adenosine Di Phosphate leaving a single Phosphate and producing Energy. It is the quickest method of obtaining energy, but unfortunately these ATP stores can only last up to 2 seconds. Phospho Creatine is then used in the resynthesis of ATP. The only problem with this is that Creatine also runs out fast, normally after approximately 4 to 6 seconds. This provides around 5 to 8 seconds of ATP production.
 

If the exercise is longer than this period, the Creatine stores are not given a chance to replenish and therefore the body is unable to function at a high intensity for very long.
 

Although training can develop Alactic Anaerobic capacity to some extent an alternate method to continuously working at high intensities is by supplementing with Creatine. Supplementing with Creatine before and after exercise tops up Creatine stores so that the body can push that extra weight or perform that crucial extra sprint.
 

There are four main types of Creatine supplements, all with similar effects of boosting the body’s natural Creatine stores. The main forms of supplementation are Creatine Monohydrates, Creatine Complexes, Creatine Ethyl Ester and Creatine Serum providing a unique boost of Creatine in powder and liquid form. Creatine Ethyl Ester is similar to the other forms but the difference is that it is believed to have a much better absorption rate, and it lasts longer.