Does Creatine Cause Gynecomastia?

Creatine is an amino acid that gives energy and strengthens muscles. There are many doubts surrounding it, such as does Creatine cause gynecomastia in men? Read on to know the facts

Gynecomastia is a condition that makes glandular tissue in the breasts look enlarged in men, and it sometimes causes discomfort or nipple tenderness. Gynecomastia occurs in peaks, with the first occurring in infancy, the second during puberty, and the last one coming during old age. 

There are many myths surrounding health products such as Creatine, and one of them is: Does creatine cause gynecomastia? The simple answer to this is no, there is no research that links male breast enlargement with Creatine intake. 

In this article, let us look in detail at Creatine and gynecomastia:

• Does creatine give you breasts or chest fat?
• What Can You Do If You Gain Weight While Having Creatine
• Can gynecomastia go away with testosterone or increase due to high testosterone?
• Ways To Reduce Breast Enlargement Or Puffy Nipples Among Men

Does Creatine Give You Breasts?

Gynecomastia in men is mainly caused due to the hormonal imbalance of testosterone and estrogen. One out of four men above the age of 45 has a lower testosterone level. Since Creatine does not have anything to do with Testosterone increase or decrease, there is no relation that can exist between the two.

Creatine is made up of 2 amino acids, glycine and arginine. Many sports supplements contain creatine. People take these supplements to gain muscle mass and improve athletic performance, and many people also have them for muscle cramps, depression, fatigue, and multiple sclerosis.

Creatine is naturally found in the body, and it is also present in seafood and red meat. Creatine provides energy to the body and helps strengthen muscle mass. 

According to studies, it is safe to take 5 gm upto four times a day, provided you are working out regularly and doing high intensity exercises. There is no link related to creatine and gynecomastia as such.

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What are the side effects of Creatine?

However, if taken in excess, it has some adverse side effects on the liver and kidneys. Creatine strengthens muscle mass and sometimes causes weight gain. Some people have had side effects like belly pain, muscle cramps, and diarrhea. 

It even has chances of many heart-related diseases, stroke, or liver damage. However, male breast development has nothing to do with Creatine

Does Creatine Cause Chest Fat?

Some people think that taking oral creatine makes them fat and gives you breasts. While others may feel their body looks plump and swollen after having such supplements. Creatine does cause some weight gain, but it may not necessarily be fat, and the chances of developing chest fat are even lower. 

Before a person takes any creatine supplements, it is better to look at the weight gain a person may experience. Also, look at what can be done to reverse the unwanted weight gain.

Water Weight

A person may gain water weight with creatine. The supplement that contains creatine draws water into the body’s cells, which leads to rapid water weight. And the muscles hold this water in the body which further results in puffiness in the stomach, legs, and arms. It makes the muscles look bigger even if you have started working out. 

When people start taking a creatine supplement, they may gain two to four pounds, mainly because of water retention in the body.

Muscle Mass

Creatine helps in improving muscle mass and strengthening it. Over time, a person will increase their muscle size and overall body strength. When the muscles become bigger, the water weight is not much noticeable, and the body looks less swollen.

Fats

Some people may experience non-muscle weight gain, namely fats in the body. There may be a rapid increase in weight, but creatine may not cause fats.

If you consume more calories, you may gain some extra fats. If people have 5 grams of creatine a day, it only has significant calories and may not cause weight gain. So if people follow a healthy diet pattern, they will not gain any amount of fats even while having oral creatine.

What Can You Do If You Gain Weight While Having Creatine

Water weight will be temporary while having oral creatine. To reduce fluid retention in the body, you can:

• Drink More Water. Drinking more water helps stimulate urination faster, which helps remove extra water from the body.
• Decrease Sodium Intake. Excess sodium intake can cause your body to retain more fluid. It is advisable to limit processed food intake and follow a healthy diet by eating more fruits and vegetables. 
• Decrease Your Intake Of Carbohydrates. Carbs provide energy but also cause your body to retain fluids. You should not overdo it. Make sure to have less than 325gm of carbs per day.

More About Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is an increase in the breast tissue among men caused due to an imbalance of hormones testosterone. It makes the breasts look puffy and swollen. However, this condition does not harm anyone but causes social and psychological distress among men who have it. Almost 50% to 65% of boys worldwide have gynecomastia.

It can occur in boys and men at different stages of their life.

• Birth. More than half of the men have enlarged breasts since birth. This is mainly because of their mother’s estrogen level. Though this goes away in a few weeks.
• Puberty. More than 50% of teenage boys have swollen or enlarged breasts. This is mainly because of the changes in hormone levels. This includes a decrease in testosterone and a surge in estrogen level, thus causing an increase in the breast tissue. This condition among teenage boys goes away in six months or can take two years.
• Adulthood. Breast enlargement is common among older men aged above 50 years. As men grow old, their bodies tend to produce less testosterone. This leads to a gain in body fat, an increase in estrogen production, and breast enlargement.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia occurs due to an imbalance of estrogen and androgen levels among men of all ages. Usually, men’s bodies have a low level of estrogen that controls the growth of the breast. 

But if there is an increase in estrogen level in the body or a low testosterone level, they have enlarged breasts. Some people who are obese may develop large breasts due to extra fats in their bodies.

Other conditions that can lead to breast enlargement in men include:

• Alcohol intake
• Kidney failure
• Liver disease
• Thyroid
• Adrenal tumors

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Can Gynecomastia Go Away With Testerone?

Yes.

For gynecomastia treatment, you may want to treat the lower level of Testosterone. Usually, the testosterone level among men starts to decline as they age. 

So many older men go with testosterone replacement therapy. It is available in different forms: skin gels, injections, and patches. This therapy helps improve muscle mass, sleep, and energy, which can resolve gynecomastia as well.

Is Gynecomastia Caused By High Testosterone?

No, in fact, it is the other way around.

Gynecomastia is an increase in breast tissue among men, mainly due to the hormonal imbalance of estrogen and testosterone. There is a decrease in the level of testosterone that causes gynecomastia or breast enlargement among men, and the level of testosterone gradually decreases as men age.

Ways To Reduce Breast Enlargement Or Puffy Nipples Among Men

Usually, puffy nipples result from excess fats, weight gain, hormonal imbalance, or steroids. Puffy nipples are usually a cause of gynecomastia that leads to an increase in breast tissue. 

Depending on the cause, people can reduce breast enlargement by following a healthy diet and working out. Sometimes people even go for surgery.

Healthy Diet

Fats in the chest area are a cause of breast enlargement in men. Following a healthy diet will help reduce the appearance. Men should eat more fruits, vegetables, whole foods, and nutrients instead of processed food. 

They can limit their sodium intake, have low-fat dairy products, and have lean proteins in their diet. It is advisable to consult your dietician before making any changes in your diet. This is mainly for people who suffer from health conditions such as diabetes.

Workout

Regular exercise and workouts will help reduce the appearance of puffy or swollen nipples. Doing some cardiovascular workouts such as running, cycling or swimming will help reduce the overall fat from the body. Targeted lifting exercises will help build and strengthen muscles in particular body parts, such as the chest.

If you are looking for rapid weight loss, you can choose to attend weight loss programs and stick to them for the long term. People are more likely to lose weight faster if they follow a low-calorie diet with some workout. Adding some chest exercise to your workout routine will help reduce the appearance of puffy nipples more quickly.

Supplements To Boost Testosterone

A low testosterone level among men is becoming common and tends to decrease as men grow older. Taking some herbal supplements can help boost testosterone levels among men and further help in reducing the appearance of enlarged breasts.

A Few Final Words

Athletes and bodybuilders take creatine to gain muscles and improve athletic performance.

Many people think creatine causes gynecomastia. Creatine does not have any calories and impacts a person’s fat metabolism. However, taking excess creatine can affect the liver and kidneys. There is no such link between gynecomastia and creatine. 

Breast enlargement is a concern for some people. Although it may not cause any health or medical problems, some people may not like its appearance, affecting their mental well-being and confidence.