If you were banking on taking creatine gummies for exercise performance and muscle growth, think again. In Arnold’s Pump Club newsletter on Oct. 28, 2025, Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed that most creatine gummies don’t meet their label’s claims, with many containing almost no creatine at all.
Creatine has become one of the safest, effective, and most accessible supplements on the planet. It’s been proven to aid workouts, help build muscle, and even provide cognitive benefits, especially for older adults.
At 78 years old, former seven-time Mr. Olympia Schwarzenegger is after any edge to maximize his training progress. While creatine gummies seem like a quick, convenient, and sweet alternative to powder, he cautioned against making the switch.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Discusses the Creatine Gummy Controversy
In the newsletter, Schwarzenegger revealed that independent lab tests found that most creatine gummies contained almost no creatine.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
“The Bitter Truth About Creatine Gummies
They look like candy, taste like candy, and promise muscle gains and a cognitive boost. But when scientists tested the most popular creatine gummies, the results were anything but sweet.Independent lab tests found that most creatine gummies contained almost no creatine, and some even had zero grams.”
A supplement testing facility analyzed 11 popular creatine products. Five were powders and six were gummies. The powders all met their label claims easily, while four out of six gummies failed quality tests.
“To see if these trendy gummies live up to their labels, SuppCo, a supplement testing platform, purchased 11 creatine products (5 powders and six gummies) from Amazon and sent them to an ISO-accredited independent lab. All five powders passed easily, hitting their label claims within 98 to 101 percent accuracy.
But four out of six gummies failed the most basic quality tests.”
Schwarzenegger pointed out that a top-selling gummy that claimed it had five grams of creatine per serving actually had 0.005 grams. A different brand contained only 0.025 grams per serving, with two others having no traces of creatine whatsoever.
“The most shocking result: One top-selling gummy with more than 50,000 sales claimed 5 grams per serving but actually contained just 0.005 grams, which is less than 0.1% of what was listed.
Another brand delivered only 0.025 grams per serving, meaning you’d need 800 gummies to equal a regular dose. And two other brands contained no detectable creatine at all.”
Additionally, creatinine was found in these products, which Schwarzenegger highlights could be from companies destroying creatine through heat and moisture from manufacturing.
“Researchers also found elevated creatinine levels, a byproduct of creatine breakdown. Many people mistake higher levels of creatinine in the body as a problem when it’s often not and completely healthy
But when they show up in a supplement, that’s a sign the gummies’ heat and moisture-filled manufacturing process likely destroyed the active ingredient before it even reached the package.”
Although creatine is one of the safest and well-studied supplements on the market, he cautioned that the gummy form is not reliable yet.
“So while creatine itself is one of the most studied, safest, and most effective supplements on the planet — consistently shown to improve strength, recovery, and muscle growth — the gummy form just isn’t reliable yet. It’s not impossible to make a good one, but formulating a heat-stable, evenly distributed gummy with 5 grams of intact creatine is challenging, and many brands appear to cut corners.”
“If you want guaranteed results, stick with tested and proven creatine monohydrate powder. Look for products that are third-party verified (like NSF Certified or Informed Sport) to ensure purity and accuracy.”
This wasn’t Schwarzenegger’s first time breaking down how to use creatine effectively. Aside from the aforementioned benefits, he also shared that creatine can have a positive impact on heart health and significantly improve blood vessel function.
The next time you’re considering creatine gummies, Schwarzenegger warns that you might not be getting what’s promised on the label. He believes sticking with a third-party verified product can help individuals make more informed decisions about the supplements they choose.
RELATED: Creatine Powder vs. Pills — Which Should You Get?
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
