Formula · 10.0

Brand · 8.8

NOW Foods · monohydrate · US

NOW Sports Creatine Monohydrate

NOW Sports Creatine Monohydrate
10.0

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Effect and evidence1.0Effect supported by studies
  • Absorbed dose vs reference intake1.0Within the working range of 3–5 g a day
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “creatine: strength and mass” — 100 %; a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Safety and purity1.0No excess doses or debatable ingredients; excipients: 0
  • adults
  • teenagerswith a doctor
  • pregnancyask a doctor
Free from:
  • artificial sweeteners · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sucralose” group — a calorie-free sweetener, usually paired with sucralose or aspartame for taste. Permitted, a preference question.
  • colorants E102/E120/E150 · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “caramel colour, carmine, tartrazine” group — a brown colour from caramelised sugar: it tints syrups and coatings and does not affect the action.
  • carrageenan · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “carrageenan” group — a thickener from red seaweed. It is permitted but debated: in animal studies the degraded form irritated the gut, so people with inflammatory bowel disease are sometimes advised to avoid it. For food-grade carrageenan there is no such proof.
  • gelatin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “gelatin (capsule)” group — capsule shell of animal gelatin (usually bovine or fish) — not for vegetarians; for halal/kosher the source must be confirmed with the maker
  • magnesium stearate · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “magnesium stearate” group — tablet-pressing lubricant; contains negligible magnesium, not counted as the element; in powders — a slip agent; does not clog pores
  • soy lecithin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “soy lecithin” group — an emulsifier from soy: it binds fats with water and keeps a capsule from separating. With a soy allergy it is a reason to check the list.
  • titanium dioxide (E171) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “titanium dioxide (E171)” group — white coating pigment; banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022, permitted in Russia and the US
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
What for: Creatine gives muscles a reserve of fast energy: more reps and weight in training, faster gains in strength and mass. Works only with training.
When:
  • morning
  • daytime
  • evening
any time, conveniently after training with food
When to expect an effect: strength — 2–4 weeks (5–7 days with loading)
What is normal: +1–2 kg of water in the muscles

Ingredients — 1 component · 1 works

What works: 1 of 1 ingredients: creatine. Creatine gives muscles a reserve of fast energy: more reps and weight in training, faster gains in strength and mass. Works only with training.

Strengths: effect and evidence, absorbed dose vs reference intake, completeness for the purpose, safety and purity

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Supplement Facts label wording · the heading of the label’s facts table — the per-serving numbers follow
  • Serving Size 1.5 level teaspoons (approx label wording · serving size: how many tablets or capsules count as one serving; all numbers below are per serving
  • Creatine Monohydrate 5 g works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: monohydrate
  • Other Ingredients: none label wording · start of the excipient list — they do not act, they make the tablet

NOW Sports Creatine Monohydrate is creatine as monohydrate: 5 g per serving of 5 g. That is within the working range of 3 g–5 g a day. The form absorbs well and usually does not loosen stools. A single-ingredient formula — all of it does the work. Creatine gives muscles a reserve of fast energy: more reps and weight in training, faster gains in strength and mass. Works only with training. By the list, no artificial sweeteners, colorants E102/E120/E150, carrageenan, gelatin, magnesium stearate, soy lecithin, titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin in the coating. Suitable for: adults. teenagers, pregnancy — ask a doctor. kidney disease — not without a doctor. Use: any time, conveniently after training with food. When to expect an effect: strength — 2–4 weeks (5–7 days with loading). Label score — 10.0 out of 10 (every question about the formula is at its maximum). The maker advises drinking plenty of water through the day. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • kidney diseaseonly with a doctor

When to stop: drink more water; kidney pain — see a doctor

Per the maker's leaflet: The maker advises drinking plenty of water through the day. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Is this supplement right for you?

The score describes the product, not you: whether you need this magnesium, iron or vitamin D is decided by your blood tests. Tell us about yourself, upload your CBC and blood chemistry, answer a few questions — we will go through every ingredient by its chemistry and biology and say whether the product suits you and at what dose.

Supplement matchDecode my tests