What Is the Prostate Gland
The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and its located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The size of gland is approximately the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). One interesting fact about the prostate is that its essential for reproductive health and is mainly made of 70% gland and muscle.
The prostate gland is controlled by hormones, particularly testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which are produced by the testes. These hormones stimulate the growth and development of the prostate gland during puberty and also play a role in maintaining its function throughout adulthood.
As men age, the prostate gland may become enlarged, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause urinary symptoms such as weak or interrupted urine flow, frequent urination, and difficulty emptying the bladder. In some cases, BPH may require medical treatment.
Is creatine safe to use for Prostate problems?
Creatine supplementation is one of the most studied and effective supplements for athletes [1]. The multifaceted mechanisms by which creatine exerts its beneficial effect include increasing anaerobic energy capacity and reducing fatigue (ergogenic effects), decreasing protein breakdown, and leading to increased muscle mass. That’s why the supplement has gained popularity in the muscle-building world.
Naturally, creatine is produced in the liver and kidneys in our bodies from precursor amino acids, its also found in small natural quantities in food like meat and fish. However, the dose we get from nature is very limited.
Our bodies run on energy and ATP (adenosine Triphosphate), and as we move, run, or exercise our bodies burn energy in the form of ATP. One reason people take creatine is that it helps the regeneration of this ATP and therefore helps to increase energy production, aid recovery and helps you achieve a better stronger workout.
one of the most asked questions by men is whether creatine affects the prostate gland or if it is involved in prostate cancer. Before we answer this its important to understand the pathology behind prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.
BPH (Prostate Enlargement) Why Does My Prostate Enlarge?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), more commonly prostate enlargement, is a noncancerous increase in size of the prostate gland.[2] this increased size causes symptoms in men such as frequent urination, trouble starting to urinate, weak stream, inability to urinate, or loss of bladder control. the exact mechanics of why the prostate enlarges is not well known[3] however it’s postulated that as we age the level of testosterone tends to decrease and the level of the derivative DHT (dihydrotestosterone) tends to increase.
This can cause the prostate gland to grow and enlarge, putting pressure on the urethra and causing urinary symptoms such as a weak or interrupted urine stream, difficulty starting urination, frequent urination, and the need to urinate at night.
Other factors that may contribute to prostate enlargement include inflammation of the prostate gland, genetic factors, and lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise.
Prostate Cancer What is it?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men [4] The reason this happens has various causes such as genetic and family profile, obesity, lack of exercise, and race.
lifestyle factors like smoking and being sedentary can also affect the occurrence of prostate carcinoma, however, eating a good diet and exercising are shown to be protective. Most prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas or cancer that originates from gland tissues.
Diagnosis and treatment requires medical advice and no supplements or natural remedies can actually help treating it
Does Creatine affect The Prostate? Can It make my prostate problems worse?
Currently, the role of creatine metabolism in prostate cancer has not been fully explored. Clinically relevant human and murine prostate cancer models were used to investigate the role of metabolism inside of prostate cancer cells[creatine uptake as a vulnerability of progressive prostate cancer.
Current data points to the fact that creatine uptake might be a vulnerability to progressive prostate cancer.
Why is this important? This is of particular relevance given that dietary creatine supplementation has been implicated to have multiple health benefits, including potential anticancer activities. In patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy(ADT), creatine supplementation has been suggested to enhance the positive effects of resistance training on patient performance and quality of life.[5][6]
As the research is limited till now what we know is that the safety of Creatine is well established in a variety of clinical studies, yet no research to date has investigated Creatine supplementation in individuals with cancer, so this data or evidence we have is limited.
However as seen in the studies supplementing weight training or resistance training during therapy for prostate cancer was shown to have overall benefits for quality of life.
Conclusions
Creatine supplementation seems to be safe and effective as a dietary supplement when this is taken at its regular dose (up to 5g per day) over a short period of time. As with all supplements, these should be used for not a long period of time and used just to aid performance, especially in athletes. Studies have shown limited evidence on the effect of creatine on the prostate and more research is needed.
To date creatine supplements seem to have more benefits than risks and overall can be used safely if taken in their normal limits. I personally use creatine in my training and I think using it in moderation can help boost performance, and muscle recovery and reduce post-workout inflammation.
References:
Rachana Patel, Catriona A. Ford, Lisa Rodgers, Linda K. Rushworth, Janis Fleming, Ernest Mui, Tong Zhang, David Watson, Victoria Lynch, Gillian Mackay, David Sumpton, Owen J. Sansom, Johan Vande Voorde, Hing Y. Leung; Cyclocreatine Suppresses Creatine Metabolism and Impairs Prostate Cancer Progression. Cancer Res 15 July 2022; 82 (14): 2565–2575. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-1301
Fairman CM, Kendall KL, Newton RU, et al. Examining the effects of creatine supplementation in augmenting adaptations to resistance training in patients with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMJ Open 2019;9:e030080. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030080