I hadn’t known of that study: thanks!
In terms of real-world outcome there doesn’t, IMO, seem to be any truth to it though. I just don’t see creatine users having noticeably better long term results than non-users other than the transient and reversible effect from the loading. Personal opinion only, not demonstrated fact.
pure anecdotal info: When I was younger I used baking soda before I lifted. I did this only once by the way. I mixed at least 20 grams into gatorade and then lifted. I was able to get quite a few more reps per set than usual. However, the baking soda raised the ph in my stomach so much that I couldn’t digest food for 3 days. I would try and eat something and I would get terribly sick. I ended up just shitting out undigested food. I used way too much.
A good friend of mine uses about 5 grams pre lifting and he says that it works great for him. For example he’s able to get 12 or 13 reps where as before he’d only get 10.
Just my 2 cents: If it helps your lifting that much than I say use it, even though it may decrease circulating levels of hgh. A blood test that tells me my hgh levels aren’t as high as they could be doesn’t seem important to me if I’m able to get two to three more reps per set.