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Acai Berry (1)
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Muscle & Workout Supplements (Creatine and BCAAs)

Creatine & Weight Gain?

1/20/2023
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Does supplementation with creatine cause water retention or weight gain? Find out what a recent study suggests in the updated Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine and BCAA workout supplements.

Glutamine Side Effects

9/30/2022
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A CL Member experienced dizziness, nausea, and anxiety after taking L-glutamine. Find out if these are known side effects of L-glutamine, and learn about other potential adverse effects of glutamine in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Also see our article about supplements that may cause dizziness.

Placebo Effect With Creatine?

6/24/2022
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Creatine seems to improve strength and endurance during high-intensity exercise, but the benefit may be due to a psychological effect, according to a recent study. Learn more in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Liver Danger With Muscle-Building Supplement

6/07/2022
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A case of liver toxicity was linked to use of an illegal ingredient found in some muscle-building supplements. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

HMB for Muscle Loss in Older People?

2/25/2022
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Can HMB supplementation improve muscle mass and strength in older people? Find out what research suggests, including who is most likely to benefit, in the HMB section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Leucine for Muscle Loss?

2/23/2022
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Did leucine supplementation improve physical function in people ages 70 and older with age-related muscle loss in a recent study? Find out in the Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Also see our answer to the question: Which vitamins and minerals should someone over 70 take?

Glutamine and Exercise

6/18/2021
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Can glutamine supplementation decrease muscle breakdown from exercise? See what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among muscle and workout products.

Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

5/24/2021
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Find out if creatine supplements cause hair loss. See the Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Picks for creatine supplements.

Do Creatine or BCAAs Boost Strength?

12/05/2020
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When coupled with resistance exercise, does supplementation with creatine or branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) further boost muscle strength? Find out what separate recent studies showed for creatine and BCAAS in the "What It Does" section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Pick for creatine and BCAA supplements.

Preventing Muscle Loss with Leucine?

9/14/2020
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Do supplements with leucine (a branched-chain amino acid or BCAA) prevent muscle loss when muscles are immobilized (such as in a leg brace)? See what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

A Better Form of Creatine?

11/28/2019
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A relatively new form of creatine may raise creatine levels in the blood and muscle more effectively than the most common form (creatine monohydrate), but it has drawbacks. Learn more in the ConsumerTips section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine.

Creatine for Older People

4/15/2019
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Creatine may boost the benefits of resistance exercise for older people, according to recent studies. For details, including dosage, see the What It Does section of the Creatine Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine.

Creatine for Older People

12/17/2018
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Does taking creatine improve muscles in older people? See the results of a recent study in the What It Does section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Pick for creatine).

Amino Acids After Knee Replacement?

10/04/2018
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Does taking amino acids after knee replacement surgery help maintain muscle volume, mobility, and strength? See what a recent study found in the What It Does section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks in this category).

Glutamine for IBS?

9/03/2018
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Glutamine, an amino acid, plays a role in maintaining the digestive tract. Can taking it as a supplement help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Find out what a recent study showed in the Glutamine section of the Muscle Enhancers Review.

Creatine Pumps Up Muscles

12/08/2017
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Giving creatine during a resistance-training program significantly boosted muscle size more than placebo in a recent study — and certain muscles increased in size more than others. Learn more in the "What It Does" section of the Muscle & Workout Supplements Review (Creatine & BCAAs). (Also see our Top Picks and Cautions and Concerns for creatine).

Leucine Protects Muscle In Middle-Aged

1/23/2016
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A recent study found that active, middle-aged people restricted to bed rest for several days lost significantly less muscle mass and function if given a leucine supplement along with their meals. Fat gain was also reduced. Get the details, including our tests of leucine-containing supplements, in the Muscle Enhancers Review >>

Muscle Supplements and Testicular Cancer

4/14/2015
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A study of men who have used muscle-building supplements shows a disturbing increase in the risk of testicular cancer. More information is in the Muscle Enhancers (Creatine and Branched-chain Amino Acids) Review >>

Creatine Tested for Parkinson Disease

2/16/2015
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Taking creatine daily for at least five years did not slow the progression of Parkinson disease according to a recently reported study involving nearly 1,000 patients. For more details about the study, other studies with creatine (for strength, fibromyalgia, etc.), and our tests of creatine supplements, see the Product Review of Muscle Enhancers (Creatine and Branched-chain Amino Acids) >> 

Amino Acids Speed Recovery From Knee Surgery

11/09/2013
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A study of men and women receiving knee replacement surgery showed that taking essential amino acids (including branched-chain amino acids) twice daily before and after surgery reduced muscle loss and speeded recovery. For details, including dosage, plus our reviews of amino acid supplements, see the updated Muscle Enhancers Review >> 

Creatine for Fibromyalgia

5/18/2013
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A new study shows that creatine might have a role in boosting muscle strength in patients with fibromyalgia. Get the details, plus quality ratings for creatine supplements in our updated Muscle Enhancers (Creatine and Branched Chain Amino Acids) Review >>