Creatine Nitrate vs Monohydrate: Stick With Only One

Creatine nitrate is a form of creatine that has a nitrate group attached. It is the newest source of creatine found on the market. While it has the same benefits as creatine monohydrate, it seems that it might have a bit higher solubility compared to monohydrate.

Just like other creatine supplements, creatine nitrate might help increase energy levels, boost performance, improve aerobic capacity, and improve muscle growth.

One of the “advantages” of creatine nitrate is that it can possibly increase nitric oxide. Nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator, meaning it can widen the blood vessels to provide more oxygen and nutrients to essential organs.

However, currently, there are not many studies stating the benefits of creatine nitrate.

Creatine monohydrate is the most common source of creatine. It is the one with the most scientific evidence to support its claims on improving exercise performance.

What makes creatine monohydrate different is that it contains one water molecule attached, which helps increase its solubility. It has the same benefits as the ones mentioned in creatine nitrate, which are to improve performance, aerobic capacity, and muscle growth.

The first difference between them is their molecular structure. While creatine nitrate has a nitrate group attached, creatine monohydrate has a water molecule attached. Even though this might be a slight difference, it affects the solubility a bit and other particular benefits of each supplement.

Creatine nitrate might be more soluble than creatine monohydrate. Now, keep in mind that the solubility doesn’t affect the product’s bioavailability. They are both highly bioavailable. In fact, research shows that creatine monohydrate’s bioavailability is almost 100%.

*If you are having trouble dissolving your creatine supplement, you can dissolve it in slightly warm water or orange juice. This can significantly improve its solubility.

Another major difference between creatine nitrate and creatine monohydrate is the current scientific evidence available.

Creatine monohydrate has more research supporting its claims than creatine nitrate. And, apparently, the FDA only approves a lower dose of creatine nitrate compared to creatine monohydrate.

Finally, the dosage for each supplement is somehow thought (mostly by manufacturers and probably for safety reasons) to be different - lower. But all evidence suggests it should be similar/same to monohydrate. Suggested dosage for creatine nitrate lower than 3g usually won’t be enough and might not produce the intended benefits - at the same time there is not enough long-term studies about Creatine Nitrate supplementation.

However, creatine monohydrate can range from 3 to 20 grams of creatine (0.3 grams of creatine per kilogram of body weight for a loading phase and 0.03g/kg/day for a maintenance dose). The amount depends on body weight and whether you do a loading phase (or not).

For example, a normal phase asks you to consume the same amount of creatine for several days (at least 30). However, if you want to get faster results, a loading phase means consuming 15-20 grams of creatine for 7 days and then dropping to 3-5 grams of creatine daily.

Keep in mind that the doses might vary between each person. When in doubt, ask a health professional for guidance.

There is no difference between creatine nitrate and monohydrate when it comes to the timing of both supplements. There is no best time to take creatine. It works through consistency and accumulation.

While some people say that it’s best to take creatine after a workout. In the end, the best time is when you remember to take it, whether it is in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

To remember to take it, we recommend doing habit stacking. This is when you link a new habit with an old habit you already have. For example, after finishing my breakfast, I will take a scoop of creatine.

Since creatine nitrate doesn’t have a lot of scientific evidence, especially long-term, we don’t recommend you take it. Instead, we recommend you take creatine monohydrate.

When it comes to selecting the best creatine monohydrate supplement, there is no doubt that Transparent Labs Creatine HMB is the best option, in our opinion.

One scoop of this supplement has 5,000 mg of creatine monohydrate, 1,500 of HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate), and 5 mg of BioPerine®.

Some evidence suggests that the addition of HMB can increase strength, promote better lean muscle mass, and help reduce fat mass (everything along with resistance training) but take it with a grain of salt.

There are several benefits to this supplement. The first one is that it comes in several different flavors. You can find it in blue raspberry, unflavored, sour grape, tropical punch, fruit punch, watermelon, black cherry, orange, Hawaiian splash, peach mango, and strawberry lemonade.

So, you don’t have to drink a boring beverage when taking your creatine supplement. Its delicious flavors can make it easier to remember to take and improve consistency.

The other benefit is that the brand is “Informed Choice” certified. This means that it follows certain guidelines that decrease the risk of banned substances.

So, the question is: should you choose creatine nitrate or creatine monohydrate?

While it seems that both can provide the same benefits taken in right doses, thanks to the creatine molecule, it seems that creatine nitrate is still fairly new. As a result, there is not a lot of scientific evidence out there to determine the pros, cons, or other features like safety of this supplement.

With that being said, it’s better to stick to creatine monohydrate. It has better pricing, more scientific research, and it’s safer than creatine nitrate. Taking creatine can help improve performance and energy supplies and support muscle growth.

Even though creatine nitrate might be more soluble , creatine monohydrate is still highly soluble and the difference does not affect anything else. Both are highly absorbable.

Now, if you are having trouble mixing creatine monohydrate in your favorite drink, try slightly warming it up or mix with orange juice to highly increase its solubility.

Which is your favorite creatine monohydrate supplement? Let us know in the comments.

Also read:

• Why Did Creatine Get So Expensive
• Does Creatine Have a Taste
• How Many Days of Creatine Can You Miss
• Can Creatine Cause Stomach Pain
• Does Creatine Make You Stronger or Just Bigger
• Creatine vs Whey Protein
• Difference Between L Carnitine and Creatine
• Creatine vs Beta Alanine

References:

1. Richard B. Kreider, "Bioavailability, Efficacy, Safety, and Regulatory Status of Creatine and Related Compounds" National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8912867/ (accessed 2022 Mar)
2. Thomas W Buford, "International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: creatine supplementation and exercise" National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2048496/ (accessed 2007)
3. Richard B. Kreider, "Bioavailability, Efficacy, Safety, and Regulatory Status of Creatine and Related Compounds", MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/5/1035 (Accessed 2022)
4. Jasmine S Thomson, "Effects of nine weeks of beta-hydroxy-beta- methylbutyrate supplementation on strength and body composition in resistance trained men" NCBI, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19387396/ (Accessed 2009 May).