If you have been reading about creatine and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Updated 2026-06-30. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
In aqueous solution, creatine monohydrate exists mainly as a zwitterion, carrying both a positive guanidinium charge and a negative carboxylate charge. This charge separation raises water solubility relative to many neutral organic solids and helps explain its behavior in analytical separations. The monohydrate can lose its water of crystallization under sustained heat or low humidity, converting toward anhydrous creatine. Such transitions matter for mass balance calculations because the hydrate contributes water mass that is not part of the active creatine molecule.
The term creatine monohydrate is often shortened to creatine in casual usage, though other creatine forms exist, including citrate, nitrate, and hydrochloride salts. These alternative forms differ in solubility, pH behavior, and the amount of creatine delivered per unit mass. Regulatory categories vary by country: some jurisdictions treat it as a food ingredient, while others place it under supplement or drug frameworks depending on claims and presentation. Standard reference texts list it as a naturally occurring nitrogenous organic acid rather than a vitamin or mineral.
Creatine monohydrate is a crystalline organic compound formed from creatine and water in a one-to-one ratio. It belongs to the guanidino family and contains a methylated guanidine group attached to an acetate-like chain. The solid is commonly described as a white, odorless powder with a mildly bitter taste. Its molecular formula is C4H11N3O3·H2O, and the hydrated form is the most widely traded grade. The compound occurs naturally in vertebrate muscle and brain tissue, where it participates in rapid energy buffering.
Creatine monohydrate is a crystalline compound formed when one molecule of creatine binds with one molecule of water. Creatine itself is a nitrogen-containing organic acid involved in cellular energy transfer, particularly in muscle and nerve tissue. The monohydrate form is the most common solid form used in research and commercial products because it is relatively stable and easy to handle. Its molecular formula is C4H9N3O2·H2O, and its molar mass is about 149.15 grams per mole.
In the human body, creatine is synthesized mainly in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. Dietary sources include meat, fish, and other animal tissues, which supply preformed creatine. Because plant foods contain little or no creatine, dietary intake varies widely among populations. The compound is stored largely in skeletal muscle, where it is converted to phosphocreatine and used to regenerate adenosine triphosphate during short bursts of activity.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical formula | C4H11N3O3·H2O | Hydrated form includes one water molecule per creatine unit. |
| Molar mass | 149.15 g/mol | Calculated for the monohydrate form. |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder | Common commercial grade is odorless or nearly odorless. |
| Solubility in water | Moderately soluble | Solubility increases with temperature and depends on pH. |
| Common synonyms | Creatine hydrate; N-methylguanidinoacetic acid | Monohydrate distinguishes it from anhydrous creatine. |
Creatine monohydrate is a crystalline compound formed from creatine and one molecule of water. Its systematic name is N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine monohydrate, and it appears as a white, odorless powder with limited solubility in water. The monohydrate is the most common solid form used in research and commercial products because it is stable under dry conditions. The anhydrous form lacks the water of crystallization and differs slightly in molar mass. Both forms participate in the same biochemical reactions once dissolved.
In the body, creatine is synthesized from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine, primarily in the liver and kidneys. It is transported to muscle and other tissues, where it is phosphorylated to phosphocreatine by creatine kinase. This phosphagen system provides a rapid source of adenosine triphosphate during short, intense contractions. Dietary creatine comes mainly from meat and fish, and the body's total pool is influenced by both synthesis and intake.
As a supplement, creatine monohydrate is studied for its effects on muscle performance and recovery. The compound is often described as an ergogenic aid, meaning it may support physical work capacity. Research typically compares it with placebo or other forms, such as citrate or nitrate, under controlled conditions. Questions remain about the optimal dose and long-term effects in different populations, and findings are not uniform across all studies. The monohydrate form remains the most extensively tested.
The vast majority of plants are C3, meaning they photorespire when necessary. Certain species of plants or algae have mechanisms to lower the uptake of molecular oxygen by RuBisCO. These are commonly referred to as Carbon Concentrating Mechanisms (CCMs), as they increase the concentration of CO2 so that RuBisCO is less likely to produce glycolate through reaction with O2.
== Malignant neoplasm of digestive organs and peritoneum (150–159) == 150 Malignant neoplasm of esophagus 151 Malignant neoplasm of stomach 152 Malignant neoplasm of small intestine, including duodenum 153 Malignant neoplasm colon 154 Malignant neoplasm of rectum, rectosigmoid junction, and anus 155 Malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts 156 Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts 157 Malignant neoplasm of pancreas 158 Malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum 159 Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites within the
Fonterra's whey proteins have been key ingredients in foods and nutritional products sold around the world, including sports, medical, and beverage applications, and Fonterra continues to be a leading global supplier of whey protein.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Mission personnel == Astronaut: L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. Backup Astronaut: Alan Shepard Flight Director – Red Team: Chris Kraft Flight Director – Blue Team: John Hodge Mercury Seven group: In addition to Shepard, each of the original Mercury Seven astronauts supported the orbital journey of Mercury 9 - John Glenn on a command ship near Japan, Scott Carpenter in Hawaii, Gus Grissom at a tracking station in Mexico, Wally Schirra as capsule communicator at Mercury mission control at Cape Canaveral, and Deke Slayton as an observer at the Cape. Worldwide support teams: Because MA-9 would orbit over nearly every part of the world from 32.5 degrees north to 32.5 degrees south, a total of 28 ships, 171 aircraft, and 18,000 servicemen were assigned to support the mission.
A detailed report of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports also contain some demographic information about the patient (for example, age, gender, ethnic origin). (NCI) Case report form
=== July 2004 === The International Red Cross reports that more than 100 children were kept in six different prisons of the coalition. Witnesses say US forces also abused children and youths. Soldier Samuel Provance from Abu Ghraib reported the harassment of a 15- to 16-year-old girl in her cell as well as a 16-year-old boy who was driven through the cold after he had been showered and who was then covered with mud. Allegations have been made that children have been subjected to torture and rape. This has been used to make detained parents talk in cases where other interrogation methods have failed. Seymour Hersh told a San Francisco audience: "what happened is that those women who were arrested with young boys, children, in cases that have been [video] recorded, the boys were sodomized, with the cameras rolling... the worst above all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking." An unpublished UNICEF report is said to include statements about children that were arrested in Basra and Kerbela and routinely detained in Umm Kasr. The children are said to be without contact to their families and cannot expect a trial.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
In common usage, yes, but technically creatine monohydrate is one specific hydrated salt form. Other creatine forms exist and differ in composition and properties. The monohydrate is the most studied and most widely available grade.
Yes. Each creatine molecule in the crystal is associated with one water molecule. That water contributes to the total mass but is not part of the creatine molecule itself. Heating or drying can remove some or all of this water.
It occurs naturally in meat and fish, and the human body also makes and stores creatine. Food sources provide varying amounts depending on the type and preparation. The compound is not considered an essential dietary nutrient for adults because the body can synthesize it.
Creatine monohydrate is the hydrated solid form of creatine, a nitrogen-containing compound involved in cellular energy metabolism. It consists of one creatine molecule associated with one water molecule in a crystal lattice.