Micronized Creatine Monohydrate is one powerful research-proven supplement for building muscle and strength – among other life-enhancing effects. And science keeps revealing more and more about this amazing supplement.
It has been available for over 20 years yet few athletes really understand the multitude of benefits creatine delivers. Creatine monohydrate is unquestionably the most effective natural anabolic compound available.
A study involving a series of in-vitro (test tube) analyses have now revealed that creatine monohydrate has the rare capacity to directly stimulate growth in muscle cells. Creatine monohydrate seems to cause this anabolic effect by increasing the activity of muscle “precursor” cells called “satellite cells” located deep within the muscle fiber.
These satellite cells are located deep within muscle fibers, between the basal lamina and sarcolemma. In response to mechanical loading (that’s science talk for heavy weight-training), satellite cells spring into action and coordinate a series of mechanized events within the muscle that leads to the repair, recovery, and growth of muscle fibers. They care for and repair the damaged fibers much the same way a well-trained pit-crew attends to their racing machine during a critical pit-stop. However, this satellite cell pit-crew is responsible for triggering massive muscle growth!
In-vitro experiments may not sound important to hard training athletes. However, in-vitro studies such as this one are extremely important and reveal powerful cellular activity undetectable by other means. These in-vitro studies reveal what happens within the cells that builds the understanding of what is actually triggering effects. This type of research allows scientists to decipher the direct effects of a supplement on cell function.
Bottom line here, this study shows that creatine monohydrate is one dietary supplement that accelerates the muscle hypertrophy (growth) process by stimulating the formation of muscle satellite cells.
Years ago scientists thought that only anabolic steroids achieved this effect. Now we know that creatine monohydrate exerts this effect too. This study also revealed other forms of creatine did not exert this effect.
Source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 35(5):769-776
