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Creatine Hydrochloride (HCL) Benefits
- Increased solubility
- Supports increased creatine levels
- Increased muscle strength and power output
- Increased muscle mass
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a compound made up of the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine. Creatine plays a key role in energy production by contributing to the formation of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells. Creatine is stored in our muscle cells as phosphocreatine, when our bodies need to replenish our ATP levels during exercise, phosphate groups are donated.
Research on creatine supplementation has shown it to have a beneficial effect on muscle mass, muscle strength, power, and high-intensity exercise power output.[1]
Traditionally, research on creatine has focused on the creatine monohydrate form. However, other forms of creatine like creatine HCL have also been researched in clinical studies.
Creatine HCL Studies
Study 1
In a study published in the Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, scientists compared the effects of creatine monohydrate and creatine HCL on gymnasts from the Brazilian Olympic team.
First, the athletes were supplemented with 5 g of creatine monohydrate for 30 consecutive days, then they were supplemented with resistant starch during a one-month wash-out period, and finally, they were supplemented with 1.5 g of creatine HCL for 30 consecutive days.
The scientists conducted body composition and performance measurements for the athlete's pre and post each supplementation protocol. The body composition measures were assessed based on body fat percentage and body weight. While the performance measures were based on 1 rep maximum performance on the bench press and leg press.
The researchers observed increased muscle mass and strength performance in both the creatine monohydrate and creatine HCL groups. And in addition, they also observed a decrease in body fat percentage in the creatine HCL group.[2]
Study 2
In a separate study, also published in the Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, the effects of creatine HCL at two different dosages were compared with creatine monohydrate in recreational lifters.
The researchers divided the subjects into a creatine monohydrate group that supplemented with 5 g daily, a creatine HCL group that supplemented with 1.5 g daily, another creatine HCL group that supplemented with 5 g daily, and a control group that supplemented with 5 g of resistant starch daily. The subjects were studied over a 4-week period, and their body composition, weight, and performance on the leg press and bench press were measured.
The researchers concluded that both creatine monohydrate and creatine HCL could benefit strength performance.[3]
Study 3
In a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity Review, researchers studied the effects of creatine HCL on soldiers.
The two-week study divided the subjects into a placebo group that was supplemented with a placebo daily and a creatine HCL group that was supplemented with 3 g daily. Before and after supplementation the subjects were measured across a variety of performance tests including the 1-rep max performance on the bench press and squat, vertical jump performance, and Wingate anaerobic test.
The researchers observed vertical jump and 1-rep max back squat performance after two weeks of supplementation with creatine HCL.[4]
Study 4
A study published in the Journal of Science and Sports compared the effects of creatine HCL to creatine monohydrate for its effects on improving performance in young men over the course of 7 days.
The subjects were split into a placebo group, a group that supplemented 3 g daily of creatine HCL, a group that supplemented 3 g daily of creatine monohydrate, and a group that supplemented 20 g daily of creatine monohydrate. The subject's physical performance was measured in a variety of ways including the vertical jump, squat, bench press, and Wingate anaerobic test. Â
The researchers concluded that the results from the physical performance tests showed no differences between the creatine HCL and creatine monohydrate groups.[5]
Creatine HCL vs Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine HCL is creatine bound to a hydrochloride molecule. The hydrochloride molecule is very acidic which lowers the overall pH of creatine HCL and contributes to its increased solubility. Research shows Creatine HCL can be up to 38 times more soluble than creatine monohydrate.[6]
Meanwhile, creatine monohydrate is creatine bound to a water molecule., creatine monohydrate is characterized by its neutral p.H. Creatine HCL contains about 78.2% creatine by weight while creatine monohydrate contains about 87.9% creatine by weight.[7]
Other Forms of Creatine
Some other forms of creatine that you will encounter in supplements include
Creatine Ethyl Ester: This is a form of creatine bound to ester salts.
Creatine Nitrate: This is creatine blended with nitrate. Nitrates support increased nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide supports increased vasodilation (a widening of the blood vessels) which supports muscle pumps.
Creatine Magnesium Chelate: This is a form of creatine bound to the mineral magnesium.
Introducing CON-CRET® Creatine HCL
CON-CRET® is a patented form of creatine hydrochloride developed for micro-dosing due to its increased solubility. CON-CRET® creatine HCL doesn’t require a loading phase. Creatine HCL has a smaller recommended serving size than traditional creatine monohydrate. And due to its increased solubility, it can be mixed in a smaller amount of fluid. CON-CRET® Creatine HCL is also a domestically produced creatine, made in an SQF/GMP facility in the U.S.
Cellucor Products With CON-CRET® CHCl
C4 SuperSport™: Supercharged to help drive your performance. With ingredients to support energy, hydration, and increased strength and power, C4 SuperSport helps you reach your goals – wherever they take you!
C4 Ultimate: Formulated to fuel your ultimate workout, C4 Ultimate provides ingredients to support ultimate energy + alertness, pump + performance and muscular endurance
C4 Dynasty: Combining a decade of art, science, and obsession, C4 Dynasty is a pre-workout that only we could make. We are the pioneers of pre-workout performance, and this is the culmination of all our work, care, and craftsmanship.
References
[1]Â https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2021/07000/Creatine_Supplementation__An_Update.3.aspx
[2]Â https://escipub.com/Articles/IJFNR/IJFNR-2019-05-2205.pdf
[5] Â https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0765159719302011?via%3Dihub
[6]Â https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/19390211.2010.491507