Many men take creatine and other muscle-building supplements in hopes of adding a few extra pounds of muscle. Unfortunately though, a new study has linked the practice with the development of testicular cancer.
The Study:
A new study out of Brown University interviewed almost 900 men, 356 of whom had been diagnosed with testicular germ cell cancer. They found that using muscle-building supplements such as creatine and androstenedione increased the risk of developing testicular cancer by 65% (after adjusting for potential confounders). Use was defined as taking one or more supplements at least once a week for four consecutive weeks or more. They found that the risk of testicular cancer is further increased if you:
- Started taking the supplements before the age of 25.
- Have taken supplements for 3 years or longer.
- Take more than one kind of supplement.
Conclusion:
If you currently take muscle-building supplements you might want to reconsider. If you’ve been taking them for a while, you might want to get screened for testicular cancer, especially if you have a family history.
Citation:
Li, N., et al. “Muscle-building supplement use and increased risk of testicular germ cell cancer in men from Connecticut and Massachusetts.” British journal of cancer 112.7 (2015): 1247-1250.
