Can Creatine Supplementation Increase Testosterone Levels?

Ben BA(Hons), PGCert

Author: Ben has been playing rugby since the age of 6 and is now entering his first phase of Army training.

He graduated with a Bachelor degree in 2005 and since then has been interested in weight training and supplements.

Contents show

Creatine and Testosterone

If you have been training for some time no you will have heard of Creatine, not only that you will have probably been told it is the same as steroids by the ignorant and even decided to use it, probably a decision based on the rumor you heard that it was a steroid.

It is not a steroid.

However, there are theories out there that it may be able to have an affect on testosterone levels and testosterone is a steroid.

So, if it can increase testosterone levels, it is basically a steroid, right?

Not exactly, but if it can naturally raise testosterone levels it will:

Build muscle
Control fat mass
Increase bone density
Increase strength
Improve mood
Increase libido
More energy
Lesser cardiovascular risk

This all sounds terrific, if we are honest so why wouldn’t we want to just take steroids?

Well, they come with a whole myriad of risks, so it is better to try and naturally increase your own testosterone production.

Can Taking Creatine Increase Testosterone?

Well, in short, according to some studies, yes.

A trial involving twenty active male subjects showed that after just 5 days of creatine supplementation and resistance exercise there was a significant increase in testosterone concentration.

Not only that, cortisol concentrations were reduced, too much cortisol inhibits the production of testosterone. [1]

A further trial which involved 20 college aged rugby players from South Africa noted that those participants who loaded with 25g of creatine per day for several days and then followed by a maintenance dose of 5g for fourteen days saw significant increases in their dihydrotestosterone levels.

In fact, their levels of dihydrotestosterone had increased by 56% after the initial loading stage.

Once they hit the maintenance stage after the first several days and for the remaining fourteen days, dihydrotestosterone levels were raised by 40% above baseline figures. [2]

Therefore, more dihydrotestosterone must mean more testosterone.

Why? See below…

What Is Dihydrotestosterone?

Dihydrotestosterone is an androgen hormone that is responsible for the stimulation of male characteristics such as muscle development and a deep voice.

It is produced from the conversion of testosterone.

In fact, up to 10% of testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone daily by the testes and prostate in men.

Dihydrotestosterone is also much more potent that testosterone, and the effects that testosterone has on the body is only apparent and can only happen once it has been converted to dihydrotestosterone.

It is an increase of dihydrotestosterone that is considered to be the stimulus of puberty in boys which causes growth of the genitals, increased body hair and more masculine behavior.

Therefore, if there is a significant increase in dihydrotestosterone there must be an increase in testosterone. [3]