Supplement
Effectiveness scores 82 due to robust RCTs/meta-analyses (e.g., 286 studies on Examine) confirming physical benefits at 5g/day, with moderate cognitive support from 10+ RCTs showing ~0.2-0.4 SD improvements in memory tasks. Safety near-perfect as long-term studies (up to 5 years) report no serious risks in healthy users, only transient weight gain from water retention. Quality excels with NSF certification exceeding basic purity tests, though premium pricing vs. generics slightly tempers value.
Excellent (88/100) - Effectiveness scores 82 due to robust RCTs/meta-analyses (e.g., 286 studies on Examine) confirming physical benefits at 5g/day, with moderate cognitive support from 10+ RCTs showing ~0.2-0.4 SD improvements in memory tasks. Safety near-perfect as long-term studies (up to 5 years) report no serious risks in healthy users, only transient weight gain from water retention. Quality excels with NSF certification exceeding basic purity tests, though premium pricing vs. generics slightly tempers value. Overall, strong evidence base elevates it above average creatine products, but cognitive claims rely on preliminary data, preventing top-tier score.