What is Gastric bypass?
Gastric bypass, also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, is a type of weight-loss surgery. In this procedure, a small pouch is created from the stomach and connected directly to the small intestine [1]. It works in two ways: the restrictive part creates a small pouch to limit how much food you can eat, and the malabsorptive part bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine [2].
Why is it done?
Gastric bypass is done to help people lose excess weight and lower the risk of serious health problems related to being overweight. These problems can include conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and infertility [1].
This surgery is usually considered only after trying diet and exercise without success or when weight-related health problems are severe [1]. It is also a good option for people who have several health conditions related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea [3].
What is creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in the body, made from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine. It is mainly stored in skeletal muscles as phosphocreatine and plays an important role in energy production, especially during high-intensity activities like exercise. Creatine can also be found in foods like meat and fish or taken as a supplement.
Creatine supplements, commonly in the form of creatine monohydrate, are widely used by athletes and bodybuilders to improve performance and increase muscle mass [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10].
Uses of Creatine
Creatine supplementation is mainly used to boost athletic performance and increase muscle strength. It has been shown to improve maximal power, enhance performance during high-intensity exercise, and increase muscle mass. Creatine can also support post-exercise recovery and help prevent injuries [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10].
In addition to its benefits for athletes, creatine may also offer clinical advantages. It has been studied as a potential aid for increasing muscle strength in individuals with heart failure, muscular dystrophy, and McArdle's disease.
Furthermore, creatine may show promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as conditions like congestive heart failure, creatine deficiency syndromes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, more research is needed to fully confirm these potential benefits [5, 6, 8].
Side Effects of Creatine
While creatine is generally considered safe, some potential side effects have been reported, including muscle cramping, nausea, diarrhoea, heat intolerance, dizziness, and weight gain from water retention.
In rare cases, high doses of creatine may lead to liver, kidney, or heart damage. It is important to consult a healthcare professional before starting creatine supplementation, especially for people with existing liver, kidney, or heart conditions [4, 5, 9, 10].
Can you absorb creatine after gastric bypass?
Gastric bypass surgery changes how the stomach and small intestine absorb nutrients, affecting the absorption of substances like medications and supplements [11, 12]. However, the studies available do not specifically examine how gastric bypass surgery impacts creatine absorption.
One study examined the use of creatine supplementation in women during early rehabilitation post-bariatric surgery. The study found that creatine supplementation was not superior to placebo regarding body weight and fat mass losses and the attenuation of muscle mass loss during the first weeks of rehabilitation following bariatric surgery. However, this does not directly address the absorption of creatine.
In conclusion, while gastric bypass surgery can affect the absorption of various substances, the specific impact on creatine absorption is not well-established in the available studies. More research is needed to fully understand how gastric bypass surgery influences creatine absorption.