Creatine Regulations in Canada
How Health Canada regulates creatine as a Natural Health Product: the official monograph, NPN licensing, legally approved claims, permitted dosage, and mandatory safety warnings.
How creatine is regulated
Creatine is regulated in Canada as a Natural Health Product (NHP) under the Natural Health Products Regulations, administered by the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD). Authorized products receive a Natural Product Number (NPN) after review for safety, quality, and permitted claims. Health Canada publishes a compendial monograph for creatine monohydrate, last revised June 28, 2024.
Approved claims
- Increases body / lean muscle mass when used with a resistance-training regimen.
- Improves strength, power, and performance in repetitive bouts of brief, highly intense physical activity.
Permitted dosage (adults 18+)
- Rapid loading: 15-20 g/day (max 5 g per dose) for 5-7 days, then 2-5 g/day.
- Slow loading: 3-5 g/day for a minimum of 4 weeks, then maintenance.
- No loading: 3-5 g/day for a minimum of 4 weeks.
Required label warnings
- You may gain weight.
- Ask a health care practitioner before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Ask a health care practitioner before use if you have a kidney disorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is creatine legal in Canada?
Yes. Creatine monohydrate is a permitted ingredient in Natural Health Products (NHPs) in Canada. Products authorized for sale carry a Natural Product Number (NPN) and can be bought legally without a prescription.
What is an NPN and where do I find it?
An NPN (Natural Product Number) is an eight-digit number Health Canada assigns to a natural health product after reviewing it for safety, efficacy, and quality. It appears on the label and can be verified in the Licensed Natural Health Products Database (LNHPD).
How much creatine does Health Canada say I can take?
The monograph permits adults 18 and older to use 3-5 g/day with no loading, or a short loading phase of 15-20 g/day (max 5 g per dose) for 5-7 days followed by 2-5 g/day maintenance.
Are non-monohydrate forms like HCL approved the same way?
Not automatically. The streamlined monograph covers creatine monohydrate. Other forms such as HCL or ethyl ester can be licensed, but their claims and evidence are evaluated separately.
Is liquid creatine sold in Canada?
Ready-to-drink liquid creatine is not permitted under the monohydrate monograph because creatine degrades into creatinine when dissolved in water. Authorized products are powders, capsules, tablets, or chews.