I am constantly reminded of how effed up the supplement industry is. Somehow I missed this:
YouTube: “Cheap Creatine Isn’t Worth It: 2 Impurities May Surprise You”
(dicyandiamide and dihydrotriazine)
Now, I have to wonder if I have also caused harm to myself from creatine supplements by not checking the sourcing. I have been primarily using BulkSupplements, but I have also used Horbäach.
Bulk Supplements sources from China, and they do not test for dicyandiamide or dihydrotriazine. I do not know about Horbäach, but since it is cheap, the same probably applies.
YouTube: “Cheap Creatine Isn’t Worth It: 2 Impurities May Surprise You”
(dicyandiamide and dihydrotriazine)
The cheapest alternative that I have found that is sourced from Germany is: MYOXCIENCE found on Amazon and other sources.
Is MYOXCIENCE a Safe Bet?
Yes. MYOXCIENCE uses a specific raw material called Creavitalis®, which is produced by AlzChem in Germany.
- Gold Standard Sourcing: Creavitalis is the wellness-focused sister brand to Creapure®. Both are manufactured in a dedicated facility in Germany using a patented “closed-system” process.
- Purity Guarantee: Because it is German-made and pharmaceutical-grade, it is guaranteed to be 99.9% pure.
- Testing: It is specifically batch-tested to ensure DHT is undetectable and DCD levels are far below safety limits set by international standards.
Dicyandiamide and Dihydrotriazine
In trace amounts, these chemicals are generally considered to have low acute toxicity for humans, but they are viewed as significant indicators of poor manufacturing quality—particularly in creatine supplements.
- Dicyandiamide (DCD)
This is a precursor used in the synthesis of creatine. While it is not considered highly toxic at typical supplement levels, it is a marker of incomplete purification.
-
Safety Thresholds: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends that DCD levels should not exceed 50 mg/kg in finished products. Some lower-quality generic supplements have been found to exceed 100 mg/kg.
-
Potential Risks: Chronic high exposure in animal studies has shown potential effects on the kidneys and liver, though human data at supplement dosages is limited.
-
Chemical Hazard: In an extremely acidic environment like the stomach, there is a theoretical risk it could convert into more toxic hydrogen cyanide, though this is not commonly reported from standard supplement use.
- Dihydrotriazine (DHT)
Dihydrotriazine is a byproduct of non-optimized chemical production. It is considered more concerning than dicyandiamide due to its chemical structure.
-
Carcinogenic Potential: While specific human toxicity data is lacking, DHT is structurally related to known carcinogens, leading many researchers and quality-control experts to recommend avoiding products that contain it.
-
Usage Context: It is most frequently identified in creatine manufactured using lower-grade raw materials or less refined processes.
How to Minimize Risk
Because dietary supplements are not strictly regulated for purity before they hit the market, these “trace” chemicals often go undetected by consumers.
PubMed Central (PMC) (.gov) +2
- Look for Third-Party Testing: Choose products with seals from organizations like NSF International, Informed Sport, or USP. These groups test for contaminants and verify that what is on the label matches what is in the bottle.
- Source Matters: Higher-quality creatine, such as that labeled as Creapure (sourced from Germany), is widely recognized for using a specific water-washing process that eliminates these impurities.
- Check the FDA Recalls: You can monitor the FDA’s Recalls and Safety Alerts for supplements that have been flagged for adulteration or contamination.