I read the recent posting describing Dr Tarnopolsky's comments on
creatine and the subsequent postings on the relationship between
creatine and cancer, or rather the lack of, with interest. This was a
fairly emphatic statement that, in the authors opinion outlined in
bold text, creatine does not cause cancer.
While it does seem unlikely that creatine is directly carcinogenic,
as a clincian and scientist I would be fairly cautious about
such absolute statements that this is a completely impossible
scenario. Almost nothing is known about the true pathogenesis of
cancer, if we did we would have found a cure. Therefore, one cannot
rule out any agent or chemical or substance as possibly having a
link to the early changes in a cell from normal to cancerous.
Dr Tarnopolsky quotes studies that have shown no link to cancer, but
it is always difficult to assess what the long term risks inolved
in ingesting any supplement or even basic food compound are. Creatine
has not been around long enough for detailed epidemiological studies
to be performed, and side effects may take decades to become obvious.
Thus, I cannot see how anyone can say with complete certainty that
any such substance has no capacity to be carcinogenic.
As is always the case when someone comes from a particular paradigm
or prejudice, instead of stating the facts, Dr Tarnopolsky subtly
attacks the messenger, in this way casting doubt on the assertions.
For example, apparently a persons opinion is more acceptable if they
are a "Dr" rather than a "Mr", if they have "credentials" we can
observe and if they have "published a paper in a peer reviewed
journal." Yes, a scientist or individual must challenge an
assertion one does not agree with, and give a good argument why it is
not sound, but these tactics make it difficult to accept Dr
Tarnopolskies more cogent later analysis as not coming from a
particular fixed paradigm.
The only certainty in the creatine debate, and indeed most of the
food supplement field, is that a lot more work and time is needed to
gain further clarity on these issues.
Best wishes
Zig St Clair Gibson
_
Dr Alan St Clair Gibson, MBChB, PhD
Exercise Science Unit
University of Cape Town
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--------
View all messages at http://sportsci.org/forum. Click on the links
to JOIN, UNJOIN, alter MAIL OPTIONS, or get INFO/HELP on acceptable
messages.
