The letter responds to increasing efforts to ban the sale bodybuilding supplements and weight loss products to children and adolescents, including those formulated with creatine.
New York became the first state to impose the ban, and since the beginning of the year, prohibitive bills have been introduced in Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire and Washington. Texas also presented a similar bill at the end of 2024. Many of these bills specifically mention creatine in their texts.
“Legislation restricting the sale of creatine-containing products to children and adolescents is not based on scientific evidence, which strongly supports the importance of creatine in the diet and its safety as a supplement,” stated the letter, which is signed by 37 people from 10 countries.
The letter also noted that “false claims and reckless speculation” may further reduce the availability of creatine in the diets of minors, impairing growth and maturation and negatively impacting the development of a healthy body composition.
“Lobbying groups and legislatures should base laws on the available science, not speculation, unfounded hypotheses or politics,” it added.
Safety and efficacy
The letter goes on to outline 14 key facts about creatine, including its biological importance, dietary sources and average intakes, as well as its safety (“No clinical adverse events were reported in any clinical trial study.”).
It also highlighted the science supporting the “plethora of health and performance-related benefits for all populations” of creatine monohydrate supplementation, which extend beyond muscle and development to include cognitive benefits.
“Given all the known benefits and favorable safety profile of creatine supplementation reported in the scientific and medical literature, we believe that government legislatures and sports organizations that restrict and/or discourage the use of creatine may be placing athletes at greater risk—particularly in contact sports where there is a risk of head trauma and/or neurological injury, thereby opening themselves up to legal liability,” the letter stated.
“This includes children and adolescent athletes participating in sports that expose them to a risk of head and/or spinal cord injury. Imposing unnecessary restrictions on creatine may reduce the amount of creatine in the diets of children and adolescents, mislead public perception about the safety of creatine supplementation and discourage healthcare professionals from recommending creatine supplementation to their patients, negatively impacting their health and quality of life.”
Commenting on letter, Carlos Gutiérrez, vice president of state and local government affairs at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), told NutraIngredients: “The ISSN’s statement underscores that creatine is a naturally occurring compound with a well-established safety profile and numerous health benefits across all age groups.
“Legislation restricting the sale of products containing creatine to minors is not based on scientific evidence and may have unintended consequences, such as discouraging the use of a nutrient that supports healthy development. Lawmakers are seeking more balanced solutions. When we engage with lawmakers early in the process, they are more willing to consider more targeted approaches to this issue.”
To full letter is available HERE.
