Quality Matters: Why We Choose Monohydrate

The Creatine Landscape

Walk down the supplement aisle of any store, and you'll encounter a bewildering array of creatine products: creatine HCL, buffered creatine, creatine ethyl ester, creatine nitrate, and countless proprietary blends. Marketing claims promise better absorption, no bloating, superior results. But what does the science actually say?

The Gold Standard: Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate is simply creatine bound to a water molecule. It's the original, the most studied, and—despite what clever marketing might suggest—remains the most effective form of creatine available.

Why Monohydrate Wins:

• Decades of Research: Over 500 peer-reviewed studies have examined creatine monohydrate, establishing an unparalleled safety and efficacy profile
• Proven Absorption: Research consistently shows 99%+ bioavailability when taken with adequate water
• Cost-Effective: Without expensive processing or patented formulations, you get more creatine per dollar
• Purity Standards: Pharmaceutical-grade monohydrate contains 99.9%+ pure creatine

Examining the Alternatives

Creatine HCL (Hydrochloride)

The Claim: Better solubility means better absorption and lower doses needed.

The Reality: While creatine HCL does dissolve more easily in water, no peer-reviewed research demonstrates superior absorption or efficacy compared to monohydrate. You're paying a premium for marketing, not results.

Buffered Creatine (Kre-Alkalyn)

The Claim: Higher pH prevents conversion to creatinine (a waste product) in the stomach.

The Reality: Independent research published in the *Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition* found buffered creatine offered no advantages over monohydrate in terms of muscle creatine content or performance outcomes.

Creatine Ethyl Ester

The Claim: Esterification improves cell membrane penetration.

The Reality: Studies show creatine ethyl ester actually converts to creatinine (inactive) at higher rates than monohydrate, potentially making it less effective despite higher costs.

Creatine Nitrate

The Claim: Combines creatine with nitrate for dual benefits.

The Reality: While nitrates can support blood flow, you'd need impractical amounts to achieve meaningful nitrate doses. You're better off with monohydrate plus actual nitrate sources (like beetroot).

The Marketing Problem

Supplement companies face a dilemma: creatine monohydrate is effective, inexpensive, and well-understood. How do you justify premium pricing? The answer: create "new and improved" forms with compelling (but unsupported) marketing narratives.

Common marketing tactics include:

• Cherry-picking isolated study data
• Emphasizing theoretical mechanisms over actual results
• Claiming proprietary testing without peer review
• Using terms like "next generation" or "advanced"

What Actually Matters: Quality Standards

Within creatine monohydrate, quality differences do exist. Here's what to look for:

Purity Certification: Pharmaceutical-grade creatine should be 99.9%+ pure, free from contaminants like dicyandiamide, dihydrotriazine, and creatinine.

Manufacturing Standards: Look for products manufactured in facilities following GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines.

Third-Party Testing: Independent verification ensures label claims match actual content.

Origin: Creapure® from Germany is widely considered the highest quality creatine monohydrate, manufactured under strict European pharmaceutical standards.

The MOBY Standard

At MOBY, we chose pharmaceutical-grade creatine monohydrate because the science demanded it. Our formulation prioritizes:

• Maximum purity: 99.9%+ pure creatine monohydrate
• European quality standards: Manufactured under strict GMP guidelines
• No fillers or additives: Just creatine, the way it should be
• Rigorous testing: Every batch verified for purity and potency

The Bottom Line

Don't let sophisticated marketing convince you to pay more for less effective products. The scientific consensus is clear: creatine monohydrate remains the most researched, most effective, and most cost-efficient form of creatine available.

When you choose MOBY, you're choosing the form that science actually supports—not the form that marketing invented.

*Experience pharmaceutical-grade creatine monohydrate with MOBY. No gimmicks, just science.*