Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

I've read quite a bit of material on sports nutrition—books written by, you know, nutritionists, RDs, MDs, and the like who have either done research or have gone through extensive secondary research, rather than random people on the Internet who post only their own experiences as helpful information. I'm getting the impression that creatine is generally safe if taken properly. I think the issue was making sure you drink a lot of water. Even a high-protein diet alone can give your kidneys issues.

The general impression, as well, is that creatine is a "must have" supplement for serious bodybuilders. The key to using it is "cycling" it properly, rather than just taking it regularly. The net effect should be more intense workouts, heavier lifting capacity, etc. If used properly, it should help you gain muscle a bit faster. But it doesn't build muscle itself. To do that you merely need to challenge your muscles enough and to take in enough calories and protein.