When Was Creatine First Used as a Supplement?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Discovery of the "Meat" Molecule (1832)
3. The Early 20th Century: Harvard and Human Trials (1912)
4. World War I: The First Practical Supplement Use
5. The Cold War and the Soviet Secret
6. 1992: The Barcelona Olympics and the Performance Explosion
7. 1993: Commercialization and the Modern Era
8. How Creatine Actually Works in the Body
9. The Evolution of Different Forms
10. Modern Research: It’s Not Just for Muscles
11. The Importance of Purity and Testing
12. How to Start Using It Properly
13. The Future of Creatine
14. Conclusion
15. FAQ

Introduction

If you have ever stepped foot in a gym or browsed a wellness aisle, you have likely seen creatine. It is the most researched supplement on the market. Most people think of it as a modern invention of the 1990s bodybuilding boom. However, the history of this compound goes back much further than the neon-colored tubs of the 1990s. From French laboratories in the 1800s to secret military applications, its journey is a story of scientific curiosity and high-stakes performance.

At BUBS Naturals, we value the history behind the ingredients we use. Understanding where these tools come from helps us appreciate how they support our bodies today. This article will explore the timeline of when creatine was first identified and when it finally transitioned from a lab discovery to a household supplement. We will look at how it evolved from a "meat extract" into a performance staple used by everyone from elite sprinters to everyday adventurers.

The road to the modern scoop of creatine was paved with decades of debate, secret Olympic programs, and breakthroughs in human biology. Whether you are a veteran athlete or someone looking for a mental edge, knowing this history matters. It proves that creatine is not a passing trend but a foundational part of human physiology.

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The Discovery of the "Meat" Molecule (1832)

The story starts in 1832 with a French chemist named Michel Eugène Chevreul. He was not looking for a way to bench press more weight. He was interested in the chemical composition of meat. Chevreul managed to isolate a specific organic compound from the skeletal muscle of beef. He decided to name it "creatine," a word derived from the Greek kreas, which literally means meat.

For several decades, the scientific community did not know what to do with this discovery. Chemistry was still in its infancy. For context, this was a time before scientists even understood what a calorie was. Protein would not even be fully defined as a macronutrient for another decade. Chevreul had found a piece of the puzzle, but the rest of the board was still empty.

During the mid-1800s, there was a fierce debate about whether creatine was a nutrient or a waste product. Because it was found alongside its waste byproduct, creatinine, many early researchers believed it was something the body was trying to get rid of. This misunderstanding delayed its use as a performance tool for nearly a century. Some even argued that because it was found in animal flesh, it was inherently toxic. Science had to catch up to the reality of how our muscles actually work.

The Early 20th Century: Harvard and Human Trials (1912)

The first major shift toward supplementation happened in the early 1900s at Harvard University. In 1912, researchers Otto Folin and Willey Glover Denis conducted studies showing that ingesting creatine could significantly increase the amount of the compound stored within the muscles. This was a massive breakthrough. It proved that the body did not just have a fixed amount of creatine; it could be "topped off" through the diet.

During this era, researchers also began to notice that when people consumed large amounts of creatine, they did not just pee it all out. Their bodies held onto it. This suggested that the muscles had a storage capacity that could be filled. By the late 1920s, scientists discovered phosphocreatine. They realized this was the form of energy stored in the muscles that could be rapidly mobilized during intense physical activity.

At this point, creatine was still not a "supplement" you could buy at a store. It was a research chemical used in laboratories. However, the foundation was set. Scientists now knew that if you ate more of it, your muscles would store more of it, and that storage was directly linked to energy production. The leap from the lab to the field was only a matter of time.

For more background on this progression, explore the history of creatine supplementation.

World War I: The First Practical Supplement Use

The first recorded use of creatine as a functional supplement—not just a laboratory subject—dates back to World War I. While documentation from this era is less formal than modern clinical trials, reports indicate that German scientists were experimenting with it. They gave creatine to soldiers with the goal of reducing fatigue during long periods of combat and travel.

This marks the first time creatine was used for a specific performance outcome rather than just to see what happened in a petri dish. The logic was simple: if creatine helps muscles generate energy, it should help a tired soldier stay on their feet. While these early military applications were crude, they paved the way for the "ergogenic" (performance-enhancing) reputation that creatine carries today.

The military has always been a proving ground for human performance. Whether it is hydration protocols or recovery tools, what starts in the service often filters down to the public. This early use case showed that people were already looking for ways to push the limits of human endurance using naturally occurring compounds.

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The Cold War and the Soviet Secret

Following the World War I experiments, creatine research largely went quiet in the public eye. However, behind the Iron Curtain during the 1960s and 70s, it was a different story. The Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries were obsessed with Olympic dominance. They poured massive resources into sports science to find any legal edge they could.

It is widely believed that Soviet athletes began using creatine supplements in the 1970s. Because these programs were state-sponsored and highly secretive, the Western world did not know exactly what they were doing. We only saw the results: Soviet athletes were consistently stronger and faster. They were using a combination of intense training and cutting-edge nutrition that likely included supplemental creatine.

This era is important because it represents the first time creatine was used systematically in elite sports. It was no longer about just avoiding fatigue; it was about building a better athlete. The Soviets understood that by saturating the muscles with phosphocreatine, their athletes could train harder and recover more quickly between sets of high-intensity work.

1992: The Barcelona Olympics and the Performance Explosion

The real "coming out party" for creatine happened at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. This is the moment when the public finally learned what elite athletes had been whispering about for years. After the games, a report in The Times revealed that gold medalist Linford Christie had used creatine to prepare for his 100-meter sprint.

Other high-profile athletes, like hurdlers Sally Gunnell and Colin Jackson, were also identified as users. This sent shockwaves through the fitness world. At the time, creatine was not banned, nor has it ever been, because it is a natural compound found in food. However, the fact that gold medalists were using it to gain a legal advantage changed everything.

Suddenly, everyone wanted to know where they could get it. This was the spark that ignited the modern supplement industry. People realized that if it worked for the fastest people on earth, it would probably work for them too. The demand for a shelf-stable, easy-to-use version of creatine exploded overnight.

1993: Commercialization and the Modern Era

Before 1993, if you wanted to take creatine, you mostly had to eat pounds of red meat or have access to a high-level sports lab. That changed when a company called Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS) introduced the first commercially available creatine supplement under the name "Phosphagen."

This was the first time an average person could walk into a store and buy a tub of creatine monohydrate. It was marketed to bodybuilders and strength athletes, and the results were immediate. People were gaining weight, getting stronger, and reporting better recovery. Unlike many other supplements of the 90s, creatine actually did what it claimed to do.

Over the next decade, more research poured in. Scientists confirmed its safety and efficacy. They discovered that the best way to take it was in the form of Creatine Monohydrate, which is still the gold standard today. By the late 90s, it had moved beyond bodybuilding and into high school and college weight rooms across America.

Key Takeaway: While creatine was discovered in 1832, it took over 160 years to become a commercially available supplement. Its transition from a laboratory curiosity to an Olympic staple proved its effectiveness long before it hit the shelves.

How Creatine Actually Works in the Body

To understand why people were so excited about it in the 90s, you have to understand the science. Your body uses a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate) for energy. Think of ATP as the "currency" of your cells. When you lift a heavy weight or sprint, your body "spends" that ATP.

The problem is that your muscles only store enough ATP for a few seconds of work. Once it is gone, your body has to make more. This is where creatine comes in. It is stored in your muscles as phosphocreatine. When your ATP runs out, phosphocreatine steps in and "recharges" the spent energy molecules, turning them back into usable ATP.

In simple terms, creatine acts like a backup battery for your muscles. It allows you to go for an extra rep or maintain your speed for a few more seconds. It also helps pull water into your muscle cells, which may support protein synthesis and help your muscles look fuller. We focus on providing pure, single-ingredient Creatine Monohydrate because it is the most effective way to support this natural energy system.

For a deeper explanation of ATP and phosphocreatine, read how creatine supports muscle energy.

The Evolution of Different Forms

As the market grew, so did the different types of creatine. Companies began to offer "new and improved" versions, claiming better absorption or less bloating. You may have seen forms like Creatine HCL, Creatine Ethyl Ester, or Liquid Creatine.

However, decades of research have consistently shown that Creatine Monohydrate is the most effective and bioavailable form. "Bioavailable" simply means your body can actually use what you are swallowing. Many of the "fancier" versions break down too quickly in the stomach or simply do not provide the same saturation levels in the muscle.

Myth: You need a "high-tech" form of creatine to avoid bloating or to see results. Fact: Creatine Monohydrate is the most studied and proven form of the supplement. It provides the highest muscle saturation levels and is the most cost-effective option for most people.

You can also browse the BUBS Boosts collection for additional performance-focused products.

Modern Research: It’s Not Just for Muscles

While the early history of creatine was focused on physical performance, modern research is looking at the brain. Your brain is a high-energy organ. Just like your muscles, it requires a constant supply of ATP to function.

Recent studies suggest that supplemental creatine may support cognitive function, especially in situations where you are stressed or sleep-deprived. People are now using it as a "nootropic"—a supplement meant to support mental clarity and focus. This takes creatine full circle, from a compound meant to help soldiers stay awake in 1914 to a tool for modern professionals and students.

We are also seeing research into how it supports healthy aging. As we get older, we naturally lose muscle mass and bone density. This is called sarcopenia. Creatine, when paired with resistance training, can help older adults maintain their strength and independence. It is no longer just for the 20-year-old athlete; it is for anyone who wants to move and think better as they age.

Learn more about the connection between creatine, energy, and wellness in this guide to creatine supplements.

The Importance of Purity and Testing

Because creatine has such a long history and is so popular, the market is flooded with options. Not all of them are created equal. In the early days of supplementation, purity was a major issue. Some products contained fillers or contaminants that could cause stomach distress or worse.

Today, athletes and health-conscious people look for third-party testing. This is why we ensure our products meet high standards of quality. Our Creatine Monohydrate is a single-ingredient formula—no additives, no flavoring, just pure creatine that mixes easily into any drink. When you know the history of how hard scientists worked to isolate this compound, you realize that adding "junk" to it only gets in the way of its benefits.

Bottom line: The history of creatine shows a clear trend toward purity and simplicity. From the first crystalline extract in 1832 to the refined powders of today, the goal has always been to provide the body with the raw materials it needs to produce energy.

How to Start Using It Properly

If you are looking to add creatine to your routine, you do not need to overcomplicate it. The "loading phase" that was popular in the 1990s—taking 20 grams a day for a week—is not strictly necessary. While it can help saturate your muscles faster, taking a consistent dose of 5 grams per day will get you to the same place within a few weeks.

Consistency is more important than timing. Some people prefer to take it before a workout, while others mix it into their morning coffee or a post-workout shake. Since it works by building up a "reserve" in your muscles, the most important thing is that you take it every day.

Make sure you are drinking enough water. Because creatine helps pull water into the muscle cells, your overall hydration needs might increase slightly. This is a natural part of the process and a sign that the supplement is working. We always recommend listening to your body and adjusting as needed.

For practical guidance on dosage and timing, explore this guide to taking creatine supplements.

The Future of Creatine

We are still learning about what this "meat molecule" can do. New studies are exploring its role in heart health, mood support, and even its potential benefits during pregnancy for fetal brain development. It is rare for a supplement to have such a long history and still be at the center of cutting-edge science.

The transition from a French lab to your kitchen counter took nearly two centuries. Along the way, it helped soldiers endure the trenches, aided Olympic sprinters in breaking records, and became a staple for millions of people looking to live a more active life.

Creatine is proof that sometimes the best solutions are the ones that have been right in front of us all along. It is a natural part of our biology that we have finally learned how to optimize. As we continue to push the boundaries of what the human body can do, creatine will undoubtedly remain a key part of that journey.

Conclusion

The history of creatine is a testament to the power of staying curious. What started as a simple observation by Michel Eugène Chevreul in 1832 has grown into a global wellness phenomenon. It survived decades of being mislabeled as a waste product and spent years as a secret weapon for elite athletes before finally becoming accessible to everyone. Today, it stands as the gold standard for performance and recovery.

At BUBS Naturals, we carry on this legacy of quality and purpose. Our Creatine Monohydrate is designed for those who want the best for their bodies without any of the BS. We believe in providing clean, science-backed tools that help you perform at your peak, whether that is in the gym or in your daily life.

By choosing our products, you are also becoming a part of something bigger. We donate 10% of all our profits to veteran-focused charities in honor of Glen "BUB" Doherty. Learn more about the BUBS story and 10% Rule. It is our way of ensuring that our mission of wellness is always paired with a mission of service.

"True performance isn't just about the strength you build today; it's about the legacy you leave behind and the consistency you bring to the journey every single day."

Ready to experience the benefits for yourself? Try adding a scoop of our pure Creatine Monohydrate to your daily routine and feel the difference that two centuries of science can make.

FAQ

When was creatine first discovered?

Creatine was first identified in 1832 by the French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul. He isolated the compound from skeletal muscle and named it after the Greek word for meat.

Did soldiers really use creatine in World War I?

There are historical reports that German scientists provided creatine to soldiers during World War I to help them combat fatigue. This represents one of the earliest known practical applications of the compound as a supplement.

When did creatine become popular for athletes?

Creatine entered the public spotlight after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. News reports revealed that several gold medalists, including sprinters and hurdlers, used it to enhance their training and performance.

Is creatine monohydrate the same as what was discovered in 1832?

Yes, the core compound is the same, though the manufacturing process has changed. Creatine monohydrate is the refined, shelf-stable form of the natural compound Chevreul first isolated from beef muscle.