Creatine vs Rhodiola for energy
Short answer: For energy, more users report improvement with Creatine — 97% of 205 reports, versus 86% of 199 for Rhodiola.
Creatine has 763 meta-analyses and 2,794 randomized trials on PubMed; Rhodiola has 18 and 45.
Based on 1,564 reports about Creatine and 853 about Rhodiola. Not medical advice.
| Creatine Supplement | Rhodiola Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 53 | 52 |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 67% | 62% |
| Reports | 1,564 | 853 |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 763 / 2,794 | 18 / 45 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | 82% (11) | — |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | 67% (3) | — |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 92% (211) | 85% (71) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 97% (205) | 86% (199) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 27% (73) | 38% (13) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 62% (24) | 74% (117) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 85% (103) | 83% (126) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 91% (70) | 75% (4) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 97% (320) | 100% (21) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | 98% (62) | — |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 50% (4) | — |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 0% (6) | — |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 82% (11) | 80% (5) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 75% (12) | 100% (4) |
| Blood sugar % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | — |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 67% (6) | 40% (5) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | 17% (12) | — |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | — | 50% (2) |
| Longevity % reporting improvement | 100% (4) | — |
| Common side effects | hair loss, stomach issues, insomnia, water retention | anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, jitteriness |
| Typical dose reported | daily | evenings |
The results of the meta-analysis suggest that creatine supplementation did not significantly alter serum creatinine levels (standardized mean difference = 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.73, P = .001, I2 = 22%), and did not alter plasma urea values (standardized mean difference = 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.34-1.85, P = .004, I2 = 28%). The findings indicate that creatine supplementation does not induce renal damage in the studied amounts and durations.
J Ren Nutr, 2019 ↗“I actually feel a lot better. Mentally clearer and more balanced, like I have my brain back.”
The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.
Nutrients, 2021 ↗“This one not only reduces my social anxiety but actually puts me in a good mood and makes me feel more social.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate