A survey published in the journal Nutrients has found that women and men who take creatine differ in how long they use it, why they started, and how confident they feel about their knowledge of it. Researchers from the supplement-tracking platform SuppCo and Function Health surveyed 2,094 current or recent creatine users, 1,055 women and 1,039 men, drawn from SuppCo's user base, a response rate of about 2% from roughly 3,300 people invited. Women made up 50% to 64% of users in every duration band under three years, but only 19.7% of those who had used creatine for three years or more. Men were more likely than women to cite athletic performance as their reason for taking it, 50.2% versus 37.5%, while women were more likely to mention healthy ageing. Women also scored lower than men on a five-item creatine knowledge quiz, a gap the authors said came from uncertainty rather than from holding incorrect beliefs.
A confidence gap, not just a knowledge gap
The survey also found a confidence gap that did not track with actual knowledge: as quiz scores rose, men reported feeling more confident in what they knew than women did, even at similar scores. Women were more likely to have learned about creatine through podcasts, healthcare providers or social media, while men more often cited YouTube and research articles directly. The authors noted real limitations: the sample was a convenience sample of supplement-platform users with a low response rate, there was no data on menstrual or menopausal status, and the knowledge quiz was short and not independently validated. Two of the six authors work for SuppCo, which provided the survey platform.
What this means for your supplement routine
This is a self-reported survey, not a clinical trial, so it says nothing new about whether creatine works and nothing about what dose or form suits any individual. What it does show is a market in which women are, on average, newer to creatine and less confident about it than men, even when they know just as much. Anyone unsure about a product they already take can check the product label and, where relevant, ask a pharmacist, rather than relying on social media as a primary source.
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This article reports published news and research and is for information only. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or medical care, and no product mentioned is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing what you take, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medicines.