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What Is Creatine, Really? Breaking Down the World's Most Researched Supplement

Creatine gets called the most researched supplement on the planet, but few people can explain what it actually is or why vegans, in particular, tend to run lower on it naturally.

A compound your body already makes

Creatine is made from three amino acids and produced in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, with about 95 percent stored in skeletal muscle. Its job is helping regenerate ATP, the cell's main energy currency, which is why it supports short, high-intensity efforts like sprinting or heavy lifting. In food, creatine is found almost exclusively in red meat, fish, and seafood, meaning vegans and vegetarians typically carry lower natural stores, not from any deficiency, but because plant foods simply don't contain it.

Yes, supplemental creatine is vegan

Modern creatine monohydrate supplements are synthetically produced through chemical synthesis, not extracted from animals, making them vegan-friendly regardless of the compound's animal-heavy natural food sources. Research backs benefits well beyond bodybuilding: improved strength and short-burst performance, faster recovery between sets, and emerging evidence around cognitive function, brain energy metabolism, and healthy aging, relevant for older adults as well as athletes.

• First identified in 1832 by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul studying meat extracts, creatine didn't become a mainstream supplement until after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
• Look for plain creatine monohydrate with third-party testing and a clear vegan label, the brand name matters far less than sourcing transparency.
• For vegans specifically, supplemental creatine can help bridge a natural dietary gap rather than compensate for any deficiency in a well-planned plant-based diet.