Can Creatine And PCOS Go Side-By-Side [Impacts and Alternatives]

There is limited research on the potential effects of creatine on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Besides, you won’t find a handful of evidence to suggest that creatine for women may have some potential benefits with PCOS.

You must be wondering what does creatine do for women with PCOS.

One study found that supplementing with creatine may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce oxidative stress markers in women with PCOS. Another study found that creatine may improve muscle mass and strength in women with PCOS.

So, does it mean that creatine and PCOS can work together?

Creatine doesn’t affect the endocrine system of the body. It simply offers enough energy for intense training to result in solid muscles. It’s unlikely that PCOS patients will have any complications with creatine. But, it is better to consult your endocrinologist before starting creatine.

Continue below to understand more about PCOS and creatine and whether or not you can take creatine with this condition.

Creatine and PCOS: Benefits of Creatine for Women

Polycystic ovarian syndrome happens to 1 in 10 women and can even result in infertility. The condition creates instability in hormonal and blood sugar levels. Women suffer from a lack of ovulation due to high estrogen levels and other hormones.

Other symptoms include

• Weight gain
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Excessive facial hair growth and
• Acne

However, treatment and medicines are available to keep the condition under control. This would also mean a change in lifestyle and diet.

So, where do creatine supplements stand in this case? Can regular creatine dose impact PCOS?

The research is still inconclusive whether creatine can enhance the effects of PCOS medicines or worsen the condition. Doctors prescribe supplements and vitamins for treatment, even a nutrient supplement therapy. Protein-rich dietary supplements, even creatine, can commonly interfere with treatments and medicines.

Creatine causes weight gain through muscle water retention, which can impact when you take it with PCOS. But on the brighter side, creatine only works with the muscles and is usually absorbed by the liver. The supplements do not interact with the endocrinological system.

So any headaches from creatine may be due to gastrointestinal issues like bloating or dehydration.

PCOS is a strictly endocrinological issue, and most medicines are used to regulate hormones. Therefore, creatine might have little or no effect on the treatment.

However, consult your doctor to decide whether you can take creatine for muscle gain while under PCOS treatment.

Does Creatine Help With Insulin Resistance?

Some evidence suggests that creatine may have potential benefits for insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body becomes less sensitive to the effects of insulin, which can lead to high blood sugar levels and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

One study found that supplementing with creatine may improve insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal disorder associated with insulin resistance.

Another study in healthy men found that supplementing creatine for men over 50 improved insulin sensitivity after high-intensity exercise.

However, excess creatine can also increase blood sugar levels which might spike insulin resistance again.

PCOS and Creatine Supplements for Women: 5 Options

Check out some creatine supplements available in the market that can also help PCOS patients with some relief from symptoms like weight gain or blood sugar levels.

Creatine	Ingredients	Characteristics
Transparent Labs	Creatine monohydrate, vitamin D, HMB, and BioPerine	HMB and BioPerine help to increase muscles with heavy workouts and also absorption.
Optimum Nutrition	Micronized creatine monohydrate	Builds stronger muscles, boosts energy and power, and improves mental focus.
Thorne Research Creatine	Creatine Monohydrate	Low in calories to reduce weight and grow muscles, helps to gain strength, and improves performance.
Evlution Nutrition	Micronized creatine monohydrate	Builds stronger muscles, boosts energy and power and improves mental focus.
BulkSupplements	Creatine Monohydrate	Pure creatine. Source of energy and muscle growth. Helps in creatine or amino acid deficiency.

8 Best Natural Supplements for PCOS

Doctors prescribe different supplements and even drugs to help ease the condition and enhance the functions of other remedies. These will allow the system to restore hormonal balance. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

You will find it in fish oil, which is extremely healthy for the body. It also regulates blood sugar levels necessary for PCOS patients. Usually taken in capsules, this supplement also influences the menstrual cycle by decreasing estrogen and testosterone levels in women.

You can also lose weight as fish oil reduces leptin levels, which prevents the body from storing food. Then you feel less hungry and avoid eating frequently.

But filling yourself with a creatin boost in overnight oats in the morning won’t do any harm.

Chromium

Chromium is a trace mineral found in small amounts in the diet and is also available as a dietary supplement. It is thought to play a role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. Some research suggests it may have potential health benefits, including improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.

Some evidence suggests that chromium may have potential benefits for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Supplementing with chromium improved insulin sensitivity and decreased markers of inflammation in women with PCOS. A recent study found that chromium supplementation improved blood sugar control and reduced oxidative stress markers in women with PCOS.

Vitex

It is a herbal plant that helps with fertility. It works by controlling hormonal levels and increasing progesterone. This herbal blend also impacts the ovarian axis. Vitex can improve your endocrine system by influencing the pituitary gland by normalizing hormonal functions.

Doctors don’t prescribe you to eat the plant, but rather a formula with vitex extracts, vitamin B, and antioxidants to remove toxins from the body.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC)

N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant prescribed to remove toxins and help endocrine health. It is an amino acid that causes weight loss, maintains insulin, decreases testosterone, and removes menstrual irregularities.

Some studies show it works like Metformin and improves fertility in PCOS women. However, they do not show any promising results while taken together. 

Magnesium 

One of the most important minerals is necessary for women. When the body has more magnesium, you have more energy, a better mood, and a balanced hormonal level. It also regulates insulin to lower blood sugar. You also relieve metabolic syndrome, so losing weight with PCOS is easier.

However, magnesium deficiency can be a severe issue. Check our blog to know can low magnesium kill you or not.

Zinc

Your body can’t operate properly without zinc. Till now, there has been no proven impact of zinc for PCOS. On the contrary, zinc will remove high testosterone for PCOS by converting it to androgen. This, in turn, will decrease weight and provide hormonal balance. Over time, you can relieve yourself from the condition.

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is usually combined with zinc to reduce the effects of PCOS. It works by reducing 5-alpha-reductase activity so that you have lower testosterone. Then you can have a controlled menstrual cycle and remove other issues like facial hair, acne, and hair loss. It also decreases estrogen levels.

Probiotics 

As probiotics control gut bacteria, this can comfortably affect PCOS patients. It increases metabolism to make you lose weight. Besides, it can also maintain hormonal balance and reduce inflammation. It further improves insulin levels to control blood glucose. Your menstrual cycle also becomes stabilized

Vitamins for PCOS Fatigue

Your body also needs a lot of vitamins to relieve PCOS symptoms and relieve the condition. Usually, this involves those from the B types.

• Vitamin D: An essential vitamin to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve insulin resistance. It also reduces inflammation to remove other PCOS symptoms. PCOS patients have vitamin D deficiency, so they need this supplement for the endocrine system. 
• Vitamin B12: This vitamin also lowers inflammation by disintegrating amino acids, like homocysteine. Besides, it helps to control hormonal levels and improve fertility.  
• Vitamin B9 (Folate): One of the commonly taken vitamins for fertility. It helps with egg quality, fetal growth, and balancing hormones in women. In PCOS women, it also lowers inflammation.  
• Inositol (vitamin B8): It supports blood sugar levels by regulating insulin and ovarian health in PCOS women. Besides, it also maintains their menstrual cycle to improve fertility and help with hormonal balance. PCOS patients also relieve inflammation and metabolic syndrome for weight loss. 

PCOS DHT Blockers

PCOS patients also suffer from increased DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels. This is the chemical that causes unwanted facial hair growth and hormonal imbalance. Patients are given DHT blockers like zinc and saw palmetto to counter this. These decrease DHT levels to prevent hair loss and maintain the menstrual cycle.

It works by increasing both testosterone and estrogen levels. Although the overall effect is satisfactory, you might suffer side effects like headaches, dizziness, or menstrual irregularities.  

FAQ

Can PCOS be permanently cured? 

Unfortunately, you can’t heal PCOS permanently. You can only relax the symptoms or even eliminate some of them. You must take medicines, change your lifestyle, manage a balanced diet, sleep cycle, and stress levels, exercise more, and improve your gut health with healthy foods and supplements. In addition, try to find the root cause of your problem with a doctor’s help.

What should I avoid with PCOS?

One of the problems with PCOS is weight gain. Even to regulate your hormones, you must avoid certain foods. These include sugary drinks or beverages, deep-fried or processed foods, processed meats, excess carbs, usually refined ones, and desserts or sweet foods. By avoiding these foods, you can maintain your weight.

Does creatine affect female hormones?

Creatine is said to regulate estrogen levels in women. This can be beneficial for PCOS patients to maintain hormonal levels. But in most cases, creatine doesn’t interfere with female hormones.

Summary

PCOS patients take various supplements and drugs for the condition, but not necessarily creatine. This means PCOS and low creatine have no significant connection. It doesn’t help to improve health or worsen the situation. You might want to take it to lose weight, gain energy, and increase muscles.

Since creatine doesn’t affect the hormonal system, the supplement won’t cause any extra trouble. You can try taking lower doses to help with workout sessions.

However, if your medications or treatment were to interact with creatine, talk to your doctor for any advice about creatine and PCOS.

And for updated information on creatine and other supplements, check our home page.