How does Creatine help produce energy?

February 25, 2007 Posted 08:41 am

The conversion of ADP to ATP takes place inside the mitochondria. These are tiny “power plants” that convert energy. The mitochondria are where cellular respiration takes place, which is the process that generates the fuel that our cells use as energy. When we consume food, it goes through a process and gets oxidized in order to produce high-energy electrons. These high-energy electrons get stored in the phosphate bonds of ATP. When these bonds are broken, the ATP is giving up a phosphate and the energy is released for use by the cell. This is accomplished by hydrolysis, which is when the addition of a water molecule will actually split the ATP into simpler molecules. In order for the newly formed ADP molecule to be able to produce energy again, it must bond with an available phosphate and reform the ATP that contains the high-energy bonds.

Figure 2 - ATP Molecule
As stated in the above paragraph, mitochondria are the sites for the process known as cellular respiration. Understanding more about this process will allow us to recognize the value that supplementing with creatine has. There are three steps in the process of cellular respiration: Glycolysis, the Krebs Cycle (The Citric Acid Cycle), and the Electron Transport Chain.
Glycolysis in literal terms means “the splitting of two sugars.” During this process, a 6-carbon sugar is broken down into two 3-carbon sugars known as pyruvic acid. These molecules of pyruvic acid will play an important role during the Krebs cycle and the production of energy. In addition to the pyruvic acid, two molecules of ATP are one of the products of the glycolysis process. There are actually four ATP molecules produced during glycolysis, but two of them are expended during other steps. Glycolysis is actually the first step in both the aerobic and anaerobic energy production process, and it does not require oxygen during its chemical reactions.
The pyruvic acid formed during glycolysis is later fully broken down into carbon dioxide (CO ) allowing for even more energy to be released. Three molecules of O are required so they can react with each molecule of pyruvic acid and form three carbon dioxide molecules. In addition, three hydrogen atoms will combine with oxygen to form water. Each molecule of pyruvic acid contains three carbon atoms. While one carbon is used when carbon dioxide is formed, the remaining two carbons are transferred to a molecule called acetyl coenzyme A. For every molecule of acetyl coenzyme A that is produced, it is broken down with two molecules of ATP as one of its products.
As the cellular respiration process continues, the Krebs Cycle and Electron Transport Chain will continue to produce more ATP until a total of 40 molecules of ATP have been created. This entire process occurs within the mitochondria. The cellular respiration process is extremely complex and there are many reactions going on simultaneously. One process that is taking place during Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle is the release of electrons. The cell stores these electrons and forms a compound known as Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH). This compound is used to carry electrons to the electron transport chain so that the electrons can be used to create more energy. In addition, a molecule known as flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) combines with two hydrogens and two electrons to form FADH₂
The electron transport chain is a system of electron carriers inside the mitochondria that pass electrons from one compound to the next. For every molecule of NADH that is formed, it will donate two electrons allowing the formation of three molecules of ATP. FADH2 only allows for the formation of two molecules of ATP. It is believed that these electrons cause the “pumping” of positively charged hydrogen atoms across the inner membrane of the mitochondria which creates the energy required to synthesize ATP. In the last step of the electron transport chain, some of these hydrogen atoms combine with oxygen to form water.
As you can see, the process of cellular respiration is where the energy within the cell is produced and ATP has a vital role in that process. Having phosphate readily available is very important if you wish to be able to keep high levels of energy accessible to the muscle. By supplementing with creatine, you can ensure that you will have the phosphate levels required during your intense workouts.