Creatine Ethyl Ester vs Creatine Hydrochloride
How creatine ethyl ester and creatine hydrochloride differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Creatine Ethyl Ester | Creatine Hydrochloride | |
|---|---|---|
| Active content | Varies by product | 78.2% creatine |
| Absorption | Low | High |
| How it is absorbed | Degrades rapidly to creatinine at gastrointestinal pH. In a 2009 trial it raised serum creatinine but not muscle creatine compared with monohydrate (Spillane 2009). | Much more water-soluble than monohydrate. Higher solubility has not been shown to increase muscle creatine uptake, which is limited by the transporter rather than by dissolution. |
| Typical dose | Not recommended | 1.5-3 g daily (marketed doses; not established by comparative trials) |
| Common uses | None established | people who get GI upset from monohydrate |
| Side effects | No added benefit for the cost; raises serum creatinine. | Similar to monohydrate. |
| Cost | Moderate | High |
| Also called | CEE | creatine HCl |
| Labels in index | 1 | 139 |
When to Choose Creatine Ethyl Ester
There is no good reason to choose creatine ethyl ester: it underperformed monohydrate in direct comparison. Marketed as better absorbed; the trial data show the opposite.
Creatine Ethyl Ester
There is no good reason to choose creatine ethyl ester: it underperformed monohydrate in direct comparison.
What to look for: Creatine Ethyl Ester named on the Supplement Facts panel, with the amount per serving stated.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Creatine Hydrochloride
Choose creatine hydrochloride when monohydrate causes GI upset even when split into smaller doses. Smaller marketed doses deliver less creatine; there is no evidence that less is needed.
Creatine Hydrochloride
Sold at smaller doses as if that were an advantage. It is not, and per gram of creatine it costs several times more.
What to look for: Only worth trying if monohydrate causes GI upset even when the dose is split. Match the creatine content, not the capsule count.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 1 labels in the Creatine category list creatine ethyl ester and 139 list creatine hydrochloride.
Supplement Search loads one category at a time. Choose the Creatine tab, then type a form such as "monohydrate" under Must contain, or a form to avoid under Must not contain.
Related
References
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
Hultman E, et al. Muscle creatine loading in men. J Appl Physiol. 1996;81(1):232-237.
Spillane M, et al. The effects of creatine ethyl ester supplementation combined with heavy resistance training on body composition, muscle performance, and serum and muscle creatine levels. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2009;6:6.
van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KH. Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players. Clin J Sport Med. 2009;19(5):399-404.
Jagim AR, et al. A buffered form of creatine does not promote greater changes in muscle creatine content, body composition, or training adaptations than creatine monohydrate. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012;9(1):43.
Kreider RB, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18.
Avgerinos KI, et al. Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Exp Gerontol. 2018;108:166-173.