I just picked up some Creatine (EAS AdvantEdge HP) to supplement with, but it says that the #1 ingredient is dextrose... isn't that nothing but sugar? The label even says that there are 34g of carbs in each serving, and 33g of that is sugars. As someone that already has a hard time keeping his carb intake down, I was thinking that this isn't the product for me. Is dextrose OK when trying to lose fat, or should I try to find a better product to suit my needs :confused: ...

--Derek

This product is basically dextrose mixed with creatine using a ratio of about 30:5. It's a great mix, and that amount of dextrose and creatine should be present in your post-workout shake regardless of what your goals are. However, dextrose is ultra-cheap and you can get a bag that will last you a year for about 20 bucks at your local brewery. So it's a lot better to just make your own mix. It'll be exactly the same thing for 1/10th of the price. And of course, throw in two scoops of whey as well.

I believe the dextrose creates an increase in your body's insulin levels which allows a greater amount of the creatine to be transported into the muscle cell. So its just there to make the creatine as effective as possible. A necessary evil, I guess.

I believe the dextrose creates an increase in your body's insulin levels which allows a greater amount of the creatine to be transported into the muscle cell. So its just there to make the creatine as effective as possible. A necessary evil, I guess.

creatine needs sodium to transport into muscle tissue.

dextrose is a really high GI, 99 i think.. 100 being the highest

with a boost in insulin your body will be able to transport protein and other nutrients into the muscle. but sodium is the transporter for creatine.. add 1/8th tsp salt to your shake.. it isnt very much and works wonders

Most "creatine transport systems" are just dextrose, maybe a little bit of ALA, and possibly chromium picolinate.

Spikes your insulins levels, which drive nutrients, creatine and protein, into your cells faster, in effect, just making better and more efficient use of the creatine that's already in the supplement.

On a side note insulin spikes are pretty bad for you.

On a side side note, the if the creatine itself doesn't give you more strength, the sheer amount of sugar will.

Another supplement that uses this is Cell Tech, by muscletech. 60 or so grams of sugar, 10 grams of creatine per serving. Yummy. Someone else brought this up, but I'll say it again. Much much cheaper to do it yourself. Dextrose costs maybe 1 dollar per lbs, and there are plenty of online resources to get it.