I want to clarify my point better:
In normal physiology and conditions, creatine supplementation shouldn’t be blamed for causing whole body cramps that require hospitalization.
We also have to be careful of the difference between creatine and creatine kinase.
Creatine kinase (CK) is a biomarker of muscle damage and is different than creatine. CK is released into the blood with muscle breakdown and then it can damage the kidneys and cause death. This is caused rhabdomyolysis and you’ve seen it in the news with other athletes.
Rhabdo occurs in athletes with intense bouts of exercise. Medical conditions and supplements can contribute to the risk of rhabdo, but creatine does not directly cause rhabdo. There have to be a lot of other contributing factors that lead to full body cramps and hospitalization.
So blaming a very concerning health event on taking too much creatine means either he was taking SIGNIFICANTLY more than the label recommended AND wasn’t hydrating well AND had an intense workout.
Creatine is just piece of what was probably a far more involved episode and brushing it off like it was a simple creatine dose issue puts unfair blame on what’s a very safe and well studied supplement.