My roommate is a nurse, and she freaked out one day when she saw me taking creatine, even going so far as to claim that it caused pancreatic cancer. I Google’d it afterward and couldn’t find much, which is odd considering how widely studied creatine is.
However, I was able to find study that claimed in the the abstract that the associated between acute pancreatitis and elevated serum Creatine Kinase (CK) activity is rare:
As well as a 3 year-old post in another forum about the issue. It was the one & only post made by that member, which says something. Instead of posting the link, here’s the quoted text:
"While 80% of the most common cases are related to severe alcohol abuse and/or over-consumption of greasy/fatty foods; Creatine Monohydrate has not been evaluated by the FDA, nor has it been deemed “safe” for all consumers.
"Our body’s pancreas is a powerful little machine that produces some of the most potent enzymes the stomach needs to break down foods. Fats and alcohols are two of the most difficult products for the stomach to break down into amino acids and simple sugars. The creatine and creatinine created in your body is produced in the kidneys, liver, and yes - the pancreas…right along side the amylase, lipase and insulin your pancreas makes daily.
"When you are introducing creatine orally into your blood, if you are not using proper dosing, or if your body is not accustomed to elevated levels of creatine or creatinine, your pancreas can have a very strong reaction to this sudden change.
"With an adverse increase in lipase or amylase, and nowhere to go, the potent enzymes can begin to necrolise the delicate layers of pancreatic tissue before clearing the pancreatic ducts to your stomach.
"In essence, creatine can promote lipase and/or amylase to “eat” your pancreas, as if it were food.
"Whenever someone says “80% of all cases are caused by X, Y or Z,” you may want to look into your situation further, and determine whether you are part of the other 20%.
“I hope this information is helpful, as I am a pancreatitis survivor, who does not drink or eat fatty foods. I am now 3 months free of creatine, and in the best shape of my life.”
I’m skeptical that creatine is anything other than perfectly safe, but all the same I’m still interested in hearing the opinions of smarter people on the issue, thank you.