Creatine supplements have been rising in popularity since the early 1990s. With thousands of supplement companies jumping on board, it’s hard to find high-quality creatine among the sea of different brands and products.
Many consumers tout Thorne Creatine supplements to be superior due to the type and quality of creatine powder they use, along with the trust in the popular brand name. But does this creatine supplement really stand above the rest? Let’s find out.
About Thorne Creatine
Founded in 1984 by Paul Jacobson, Thorne is a supplement brand that provides a variety of products to enhance and support health. Their mission is to empower individuals to live healthier for longer through personalized, scientific testing and solutions.
One of their most popular products, their creatine powder, is NSF Certified for Sport. This certification sets Thorne creatine above many others by providing third-party testing of their products to ensure they are free of harmful substances that are banned for athletes. It is easy to mix, colorless, odorless, and comes in a highly researched micronized form. Each serving contains 5 grams of creatine monohydrate.
Thorne Creatine Benefits
According to their website, Thorne creatine provides extensive benefits to athletes and exercise enthusiasts alike. Its benefits range from improving physical endurance and muscle performance to enhancing strength and promoting lean body mass.
Thorne also claims their creatine supplement helps to support cognitive function and healthy body composition, prevent injury, and provide nutrition support for those with increased needs who don’t get adequate creatine in their diet.
Thorne Creatine Ingredients
The main active ingredient in Thorne Creatine supplements is, you guessed it, creatine. But Thorne doesn’t just use any creatine, they use creatine monohydrate. There are many different types of creatine, but creatine monohydrate is the most common, and most well-researched form.
Creatine is one of the most studied supplements worldwide. It is an organic compound naturally produced in the body. It’s similar to an amino acid, the building blocks for protein, which is why you can also get creatine from food, such as meat.
Consuming dietary creatine can help boost your body’s creatine stores, which are mainly found in your muscles (95%). Your body’s creatine stores begin to deplete as your age or reduce your physical activity. Vegetarians and vegans tend to have lower creatine stores because they lack intake of dietary creatine.
Studies have found creatine to help improve exercise performance and recovery, and even benefit brain health.
Research recommends creatine monohydrate be taken in doses of 3-5 grams per serving per day, or 20 grams divided into 4 servings throughout the day of 5 grams each during the loading phase. Thorne supplements not only contain gold-standard creatine, but they also provide it in science-backed doses for optimal absorption and benefits at 5 grams per serving.
Does Thorne Creatine Work?
According to research, natural creatine stores rarely reach 100% in your muscles. Supplementation with creatine monohydrate can increase your body’s muscle stores. Higher creatine storage levels can help your muscles produce more energy during high-intensity exercise to increase performance. Any additional creatine is excreted from the body as waste therefore taking creatine supplements is likely to provide said benefits as long as you have not already exceeded your maximum creatine stores.
Who is Thorne Creatine Best For?
Creatine supplements, such as Thorne Creatine are best for those who are looking to maximize exercise performance and don’t likely have adequate creatine stores. For example, vegan or vegetarian athletes will likely benefit the most from a creatine supplement. Thorne’s Creatine supplement is vegan-friendly however, it’s important to note that not all creatine supplements are suitable for vegan/vegetarian diets.
Those with kidney disease, liver disease, or high blood pressure should avoid taking creatine supplements. Do not take creatine supplements if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant. Creatine supplements may interact with other medications. Always speak to your doctor or healthcare provider before adding any supplements to your routine.
Claims vs. Reality
Creatine is one of the most widely researched dietary supplements in the world and of that, creatine monohydrate is the most studied form. Because of this, there is a myriad of studies to back up the claims made by Thorne for their creatine powder. Although, like any supplement, results may vary by individual.
How Does Thorne Creatine Compare?
When comparing Thorne’s Creatine supplement to others of its kind, such as 1st Phorm Creatine Monohydrate and Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder, all products contain the same dose of creatine monohydrate, 5 grams. However, Optimum Nutrition is $64.99 for 1.32lbs (120 servings) while 1st Phorm is $39.99 for 1.1lbs (100 servings) and Thorne is $40 for 1lb (90 servings)
Thorne is the only brand of creatine powder that offers the NSF Certified for Sport certification on their product. Optimum Nutrition states on its label “Banned Substance Tested” but does not have the NSF certification to prove third-party testing.
Although Thorne Creatine is moderately priced and contains the same type and dose of creatine as many other brands, Thorne is top-rated for their transparency. Not only do they provide high-quality, well-researched ingredients in their products, but they also make sure to prove their worth with additional testing for consumer piece of mind. That is what makes Thorne Creatine a cut above the rest.
Is Thorne Creatine Safe?
Despite the research available, many consumers are fearful of taking creatine monohydrate due to purported side effects that include weight gain, bloating, dehydration, muscle cramps, kidney and liver disease, kidney stones, and more. However, research has found that creatine is safe. In fact, it’s been found to be safe to take even daily for extended periods with no significant side effects reported in high doses (30 grams per day) taken over 5 years.
Where to Buy Thorne Creatine
You can purchase Thorne Creatine directly from their website thorne.com.
Thorne Creatine is priced at $40 for 90 scoops, or other retail locations, such as thrivemarket.com or amazon.com for the same price.
