Creatine Increases DHT?

Based on the questions and answers on your excellent blog, you seem to have taken an ambivalent position on creatine and hair loss in the past. I am 25 and very athletic, and I have a medical background so would never consider taking steroids or other dangerous substances. Creatine is a safe and effective athletic supplement that I have been taking for some time, but a recent study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that creatine raised serum DHT by 40 percent when taken at the moderate dose of 5 grams per day. In addition, creatine has recently been shown to increase the ratio of DHT to testosterone in young athletes. Do you think this is sufficient evidence for young hair loss sufferers to entirely avoid this otherwise excellent ergogenic aid?

I found the study you’re referencing — Three Weeks of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation Affects Dihydrotestosterone to Testosterone Ratio in College-Aged Rugby Players

The study was very limited (only 20 men) and the amount of creatine taken can vary wildly amongst those that use it, but I would avoid creatine if it indeed increases DHT levels in the body and you’re worried about possible hair loss. The study itself concludes, “Further investigation is warranted as a result of the high frequency of individuals using creatine supplementation and the long-term safety of alterations in circulating androgen composition.”

I appreciate you bringing it to my attention.