Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? 2026: The DHT Study Explained

One 2009 study created one of the biggest myths in sports nutrition. Here’s exactly what it found, what it didn’t find, and what the current evidence actually says about creatine and hair loss.

The Origin: The 2009 Rugby Study

In 2009, a study published in Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine recruited 20 male college rugby players in South Africa. They received either creatine monohydrate (loading phase: 25g/day × 7 days, then 5g/day × 14 days) or placebo. After the loading phase, researchers measured DHT (dihydrotestosterone) — not hair loss — and found a 56% increase in DHT:testosterone ratio in the creatine group.

DHT is a potent androgen that binds to hair follicle receptors in genetically susceptible people, accelerating male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). This is where the connection comes from. But there are critical problems with this extrapolation.

Why This Doesn’t Prove Hair Loss

• DHT increased, not hair loss. The study measured blood markers, not actual hair follicle activity or hair shedding. DHT elevation does not cause hair loss in everyone — only in those with genetic predisposition (androgen receptor sensitivity in follicles).
• Never replicated. No subsequent study has confirmed this DHT finding. Multiple creatine studies measuring hormonal panels showed no significant DHT changes.
• Study size: 20 subjects. This is a very small sample for a hormone study. Statistical noise is significant at this scale.
• No control for diet, training, or stress — all of which independently affect DHT levels during intensive athletic training periods.
• Total testosterone was not elevated. If creatine caused androgenic effects broadly, you’d expect testosterone changes too — they were absent.

What Current Evidence Shows

A 2021 systematic review in Nutrients examined all available evidence on creatine and androgenic activity. Conclusion: the evidence does not support a causal relationship between creatine supplementation and androgenetic alopecia. The 2009 study remains an isolated finding that has not been independently replicated.

If you are already experiencing pattern baldness (MPB), the theoretical mechanism means you cannot rule out creatine as a minor contributing factor during the loading phase. The practical advice: if you have significant genetic predisposition to hair loss and are concerned, use the maintenance dose (3–5g/day) without the loading phase — the DHT spike in the 2009 study was observed during the 25g/day loading period.

Verdict

For the vast majority of users: no. One unreplicated study showing a transient DHT increase during an extreme loading protocol is insufficient to conclude that creatine causes hair loss in general use. The benefit-risk calculation strongly favors creatine for virtually everyone. If you are genetically predisposed to MPB and want to be cautious, skip the loading phase. See our full creatine review →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I stop taking creatine if I notice hair shedding?

Hair shedding has many causes — stress, nutritional deficiency, hormonal changes, seasonal variation. If you notice increased shedding after starting creatine, stop for 4 weeks and observe. If shedding persists after stopping, creatine was not the cause. If it resolves, you may have genetic DHT sensitivity and creatine may be a minor contributing factor for you specifically.

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Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? The DHT Study Explained Does creatine cause hair loss? The 2009 DHT study explained, why subsequent research doesn't confirm it, and the realistic risk assessment.

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