Creatine HCl Capsules | Muscle, Cognitive, Cellular Energy Support | No Bloating or Cramps | USA Made & NSF Certified | Creatine Pills (90 ct)

Great product. Works well. Been using creatine for decades. The pills are very convenient.

I will probably never use a different brand of creatine. Great value and you see the effects pretty quickly. Make sure to take with enough water and a little food. If you don’t sometimes it can give you really bad heartburn but it goes away pretty quickly if you chug water or have a snack. Great product, will continue to purchase

I've only tried a couple other creatine supps. The Con-Cret HLC caplets are my favorite for a couple reasons. I'm always on or off a major cycle of supplements, and throwing a serving of these into the 10+ caplets I take a day is just easy. There's no real taste, unless the caplets crack or leak, whic has happened once in about 5 bottles. The tate is just a sour, citric taste if it happens. Not unpleasant at all. The size of these calpets is also very normal. I take 3 a day, and they're easy to swallow with water, food, whatever. They're pretty decent value, not the most expensive on the market, but definitely not cheap. They're in the middle, but definitely provide a solid serving of creatine HCL, and you can take much less by comparison to regular or micronised creatine. This stuff also reportedly absorbs much better and I've noticed ZERO bloating. Side note. On rare occasions these can cause a heartburn feeling. This is usually when I have a fairly empty stomach or mostly liquids in my stomach. If this happens, just have a snack or chuck your protein shake. It'll fix that feeling right away. It's rare, but takes two seconds to feel normal again.

While I enjoyed this creatine variation, I fear I was under-dosing on it for years. Do your research and know that the higher absorption claims are pure marketing. HCL is more soluble, but that does not mean it absorbs any better or is more bioavailable than monohydrate. 🤖: Based on the information provided in the images and my general knowledge of creatine supplements, I can offer an analysis of the claims made by the brand about CON-CRÉT Creatine HCl versus creatine monohydrate. However, since my knowledge is based on widely available scientific understanding and not specific to the latest studies or proprietary formulations (which may require more detailed research), I'll provide a reasoned evaluation and suggest further investigation if needed. ### Claims Analysis: The product labeling and accompanying images make several comparative claims about CON-CRÉT Creatine HCl versus creatine monohydrate, including: 1. **High Absorption Rate vs. Low Absorption Rate**: The label suggests that Creatine HCl (specifically CON-CRÉT) has a higher absorption rate compared to monohydrate. 2. **1 Capsule vs. Multiple Capsules**: It implies that a single 750 mg capsule of CON-CRÉT is sufficient, while monohydrate requires multiple capsules. 3. **No Side Effects vs. Bloating, Stomach Irritation, Water Retention**: CON-CRÉT claims no side effects, while monohydrate is associated with bloating, stomach irritation, and water retention. #### Scientific Context: - **Creatine Monohydrate**: This is the most researched and widely used form of creatine. Studies consistently show it is effective at doses of 3-5 grams per day for improving strength, power, and muscle mass. It is generally well-absorbed when taken with carbohydrates or protein, though some individuals report gastrointestinal discomfort or water retention, particularly during a loading phase (20 g/day for 5-7 days). - **Creatine HCl**: Creatine Hydrochloride is marketed as a more soluble and better-absorbed form of creatine, potentially requiring lower doses due to improved bioavailability. The claim of higher absorption is based on the idea that the hydrochloride salt form increases solubility in the stomach, reducing the need for a loading phase and minimizing side effects like bloating. However, there is limited independent research directly comparing Creatine HCl to monohydrate in terms of absorption and efficacy. Most evidence supporting HCl comes from manufacturer-funded studies or anecdotal reports. #### Evaluation of Claims: 1. **High Absorption Rate vs. Low Absorption Rate**: - **Validation**: The improved solubility of Creatine HCl may enhance absorption in the digestive tract compared to monohydrate, especially for individuals with sensitive stomachs. However, there is no definitive peer-reviewed evidence to confirm that Creatine HCl is significantly more bioavailable than monohydrate under normal conditions. Monohydrate's absorption is well-documented and effective at standard doses. This claim is partially plausible but lacks robust independent validation. - **Suggestion**: More research would be needed to substantiate this difference conclusively. 2. **1 Capsule (750 mg) vs. Multiple Capsules**: - **Validation**: The label suggests a serving size of 750 mg for CON-CRÉT, with a recommended dose of 1-3 servings (750-2250 mg) depending on body weight and exercise intensity. In contrast, creatine monohydrate is typically recommended at 3-5 grams per day (3000-5000 mg) for maintenance, which would indeed require multiple capsules if using a similar 750 mg capsule size. The claim that CON-CRÉT requires fewer capsules could hold true if its effective dose is lower due to better absorption. However, without clinical data showing that 750 mg of HCl is equivalent to 3-5 grams of monohydrate, this remains a marketing assertion rather than a proven equivalence. - **Suggestion**: The effective dose equivalence is not well-established in independent studies. A 750 mg dose of HCl might be sufficient for some individuals, but this would need to be compared to monohydrate's established efficacy. 3. **No Side Effects vs. Bloating, Stomach Irritation, Water Retention**: - **Validation**: Creatine monohydrate can cause bloating, stomach irritation, and water retention in some users, particularly during the loading phase or if not taken with enough water. The hydrochloride form is designed to be less likely to cause these issues due to its solubility and lower required dose. Anecdotal evidence and some manufacturer studies support reduced side effects with Creatine HCl. However, "no side effects" is an absolute claim that is difficult to substantiate universally, as individual responses to supplements vary. Monohydrate's side effects are generally mild and diminish with proper hydration and dosing. - **Suggestion**: The reduced side effect claim is plausible but overstated. Independent studies would help confirm whether Creatine HCl consistently avoids these issues compared to monohydrate. ### Conclusion: - The claims made by the brand about CON-CRÉT Creatine HCl having a higher absorption rate, requiring fewer capsules, and causing no side effects compared to creatine monohydrate are partially supported by the theoretical advantages of the HCl form (e.g., improved solubility). However, these claims lack extensive independent scientific validation to confirm that 750 mg of Creatine HCl is equivalent in effectiveness to 3-5 grams of monohydrate or that it universally eliminates side effects. - Creatine monohydrate remains the gold standard due to its extensive research base, proven efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. The benefits of Creatine HCl may be real for some users (e.g., those sensitive to monohydrate), but the specific dose equivalence and superiority claims should be treated with caution without more robust evidence. ### Recommendation: If you need a definitive answer on the equivalence of effective doses or the validity of these claims, I can search the web or analyze additional studies or user feedback. Would you like me to do that?

I was desperate to find a quality creatine capsule because honestly mixing the powder bothers me. I already mix pre-workout. I'm done mixing more supplements and constantly cleaning out the bottle to avoid flavor clashes. Same goes for protein, I'm paying the extra (gladly) for pre-mix shakes. I also didn't want to have to take 2-4 pills for 1 serving. A lot of the monohydrate pills are like this. It is deceptive to advertise more pills in a bottle when really it's the pills per serving that counts. This supplement is true 1 pill = 1 serving. Therefor the price of this supplement is reasonable to me. The fact that its HCL is a bonus. HCL means it should be (in theory) more absorbent. So less is needed to take for same effect as monohydrate. I believe it linked to less bloating feeling which many report with monohydrate. Water consumption is key. You must drink LOTS of water. I'm trying to do at least 64 oz. a day. I've only tried the capsule so there is not taste for me to detect. It is easy to swallow with a sip of water. I personally will not try the gummies because HCL is naturally very acidic and reminds me of an extremely sour lemon flavor. It will be tough to hide this a gummy which must be chewed, vs a capsule. My only quibble is the inside of the bottle has a residue of HCL which means maybe some of the capsules have come apart or are leaking. My performance in the gym is steadily increasing. Creatine is a not a sprint, it's a marathon. It must be taken regularly and with scheduled breaks. I am not bloating and muscle mass is growing. The next time I need to buy creatine this will be purchased again.

This creatine is great... I like what it does to to mentally but also physically

Surprisingly, I started using this and gained significant improvements in my strength. No bloating or GI upset. I think I’m hooked

First, let me give credit where it's due. This is a 5-star compound. As a chemical, Creatine HCl is a brilliant solution for those of us who get GI distress from monohydrate. It is 40x more soluble, dissolves instantly, and 100% eliminates the bloating. For that, the creators deserve applause. However, this review is for the product, and the product's core premise - the "patented micro-dose" - is a marketing illusion. The logic chain is: High Solubility = High Bioavailability = A "Micro-Dose" is all you need. The problem is, this is false. As recent (2024) human studies like PMC11629957 confirm, solubility does not equal bioavailability, and a low dose of HCl is not as effective as a 3-5g dose of monohydrate. So, why patent a low dose? Here's the secret. The "micro-dose" wasn't patented because it's more effective. It was patented because it's the only way to make the product marketable. Creatine HCl is an expensive chemical to manufacture. If they sold it at a real, effective 3-5g dose, the price-per-serving would be astronomically high, and no one would buy it. By patenting a "micro-dose" (like 750mg), they create a small, artificially cheap-looking serving size. It's a brilliant business move, not a scientific one. It allows them to sell you a 120-serving bottle that is, in reality, only a 30-day supply for anyone taking a truly effective dose (min. 3g). My verdict is I'm keeping this product because it 100% solves my bloating. But I'm ignoring the label and taking 3-4 capsules a day (a real dose). It's an excellent chemical, but be aware that you're paying a high premium for a misleading "micro-dose" business model.