Safe supplements while BF'ing

jewels1273

Other than protein powders (I currently take Jay Robb since there are no additives) are there any supplements (other than a multi-vitamin) that you can take that is safe while Bf'ing?  I am looking to add creatine since I took it before I was pregnant and it helped with the post-workout soreness.

 TIA

Sarah K. B.

Long, but short answer is to abstain from creatine while breastfeeding.

"It is not known whether the levels of creatine in breast milk increase during periods of supplementation. Until this information becomes available women nursing infants are advised to abstain from using creatine. The point of this recommendation is to avoid inadvertently exposing the infant to abnormally elevated levels of creatine that might alter key metabolic processes during development."

A red flag, however, was raised by studies examining rat fetal development. A region of the placenta known as the decidua was found in rodents to express very high levels of the enzyme, AGAT (L-Arginine:GlycineAmidinoTransferase). AGAT is first of two enzymes used in the synthesis of creatine from common amino acids. AGAT catalyzes the union of arginine and methionine to form GuanidinoAcetic Acid, or GAA, in the kidneys; ornithine is the other product of this synthetic reaction. GAA is then transported in the blood stream to the liver where it is activated by the addition of a methyl group (from methionine) to produce creatine. This second step is one of the principal methylation reactions undertaken by the body.

A similar concern arose from the finding that the expression level of the creatine transporter changes dramatically during the first few weeks of life in certain animal species. For instance, in rabbit pups the level of creatine transporter expressed on neurons within the brain drops by 60% between the first 5 to 15 days of life. That is, after birth. Given the fact that serum creatine levels have been shown to influence the expression of the creatine transporter, the possibility thus exists that exogenous creatine supplementation may upset an inherent developmental program based on natural changes in serum creatine levels. Again, this phenomenon remains to be corroborated in humans."

https://www.creatinemonohydrate.net/creatine_side_effects.html