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Research library

The science behind what you're taking.

Primary sources — no summaries, no spin. Peer-reviewed studies, position statements, and regulatory findings on creatine monohydrate.

By the numbers

What the evidence actually shows.

Key quantitative findings from peer-reviewed trials and meta-analyses. Full citations in the reference list below.

1,000+

Published studies

More research than any other performance supplement in existence — across age groups, fitness levels, sexes, and health conditions.

Kreider et al., 2017 — J. International Society of Sports Nutrition

+8%

Strength performance

Mean improvement in high-intensity strength and power output across 22 independent trials.

Rawson & Volek, 2003 — J. Strength and Conditioning Research

9%

Brain creatine increase

Rise in brain phosphocreatine stores following daily supplementation, confirmed by MRI spectroscopy.

Watanabe et al., 2002 — Neuroscience Research

30+

Years of research

Continuously studied since Harris et al. first documented muscle creatine elevation in 1992.

Harris, Soderlund & Hultman, 1992 — Clinical Science

16

Cognitive RCTs

Randomized controlled trials in the most recent meta-analysis. Significant effects on memory and processing speed.

Forbes et al., 2022 — Nutrients

Common questions

Everything you want to know. Answered.

Is creatine safe to take every day?

Yes. Creatine monohydrate is the most-studied sports supplement in existence — over 1,000 peer-reviewed studies and decades of daily-use safety data in healthy adults. We use Creavitalis®, made to pharmaceutical standards at the same German facility as Creapure®.

What's the difference between Creavitalis® and regular creatine?

Standard creatine monohydrate works — but most is coarsely milled, which means it settles and leaves grit you can taste. Creavitalis® is ultra-micronized at AlzChem's pharmaceutical facility in Bavaria, the same lab that produces Creapure®. The finer particle size means complete dissolution in any liquid, hot or cold, with 99.9% purity and zero residue. Same molecule, same clinical evidence — different standard of manufacture, and a texture that makes daily consistency effortless.

Does it contain caffeine?

Lemon Creatine has none — take it any time, day or night. Creatine Coffee contains 145mg of natural caffeine from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ freeze-dried arabica, and nothing synthetic.

How much do I take, and do I need to load?

One stick a day — a pre-measured 5g clinical dose, the amount shown effective in the research. No loading phase required; daily consistency matters more than front-loading.

When should I take it?

Whenever fits your routine. Creatine works by saturating your muscles over time, so consistency beats precise timing. Most people take it with their morning coffee or alongside training.

Is it third-party tested?

Every batch. Merivo is NSF Certified for Sport® — the highest standard in independent testing, screened against banned substances and cleared for NCAA, Olympic, and professional competition.

Primary sources

The evidence, unfiltered.

2021

Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al.

Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

2017

Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al.

International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

1996

Hultman E, Soderlund K, Timmons JA, et al.

Muscle creatine loading in men

Journal of Applied Physiology

2003

Branch JD

Effect of creatine supplementation on body composition and performance: a meta-analysis

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

2003

Rawson ES, Volek JS

Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

1994

Greenhaff PL, Bodin K, Soderlund K, Hultman E

Effect of oral creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle phosphocreatine resynthesis

American Journal of Physiology

2022

Forbes SC, Cordingley DM, Cornish SM, et al.

Effects of creatine supplementation on brain function and health

Nutrients

2025

Smith-Ryan AE, Cabre HE, Moore SR, et al.

Creatine in women's health: bridging the gap from menstruation through pregnancy to menopause

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

2021

Smith-Ryan AE, Cabre HE, Eckerson JM, Candow DG

Creatine for women: a review of the relationship between creatine and the reproductive cycle

Nutrients

2025

Sharifian G, Aseminia P, Heidary D, Esformes JI

Impact of creatine supplementation and exercise training in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity

2014

Candow DG, Chilibeck PD, Forbes SC

Creatine supplementation and aging musculoskeletal health

Endocrine

2015

Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE

Creatine and caffeine: considerations for concurrent supplementation

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

The Merivo standard

Third-party tested. Every batch.

01.

1,000+

Published studies

The most extensively researched performance supplement in the world.

02.

30+

Years of research

Continuously studied since Harris et al., 1992. Recognized by the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

03.

NSF®

Certified for Sport®

The highest standard in third-party testing — cleared for Olympic and professional competition.

04.

99.9%

Pharmaceutical-grade purity

Ultra-micronized — zero grit, zero residue in any liquid.

Questions about the research? Reach out at hello@merivo.co
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