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How Much Creatine Is in the Bang Energy Drink?

By Caleb Hester · · Updated

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Launched in 2012, Bang energy drink grew fast over the last decade and became one of the country’s top-selling energy drinks behind Red Bull and Monster. Most folks drink Bang to improve their energy levels and performance.

But…

Some folks buy Bang because the label lists "Super Creatine." Which begs the question, how much creatine is in Bang energy drinks? And do you get an effective dose of creatine from a can?

Decoding Bang Energy Drink: What Sets It Apart From the Other Energy Drinks?

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Amidst the competitive energy drink market that has been dominated by Red Bull and Monster energy drinks, Bang energy drink carved itself a unique niche.

They built the brand around "Super Creatine," borrowing the name of creatine, a supplement popular with bodybuilders.

Bang energy drinks come in some eye-catching cans, and it is available in a wide array of flavors, including Miami Cola and Star Blast, which can cater to various taste preferences.

Bang was marketed to fitness-minded consumers. The proprietary ingredient that set it apart was Super Creatine, which the company said gave you an extra boost.

Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX), Bang's original maker, pitched this ingredient as a more advanced form of creatine with brain and body benefits.

There is no published research showing that this compound, creatyl-L-leucine, raises creatine levels in your muscles. A federal jury also found the Super Creatine marketing to be false advertising, as covered below.

So is Super Creatine as effective as they claimed? How much creatine is in Bang energy drinks? Find out in this article.

How Much Creatine Is in Bang Energy Drinks?

This may surprise most of us, but the Bang energy drink doesn’t have the creatine monohydrate we all love. Instead, Bang energy drinks come with a compound branded Super Creatine, which is creatyl-L-leucine.

Therefore, the creatine compound in the Bang energy drink is a different kind of creatine and not the usual compound found in supplements.

Bang does not disclose how much Super Creatine is in a 16-ounce (473ml) can.

It is a proprietary ingredient listed without an amount, so there is no reliable figure. Any number you see online is an estimate.

If you are buying this drink for your creatine, you’re wasting your cash. Super Creatine is not creatine monohydrate.

Research doses of creatine monohydrate are measured in grams, not milligrams. The International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand on creatine describes maintenance doses of 3 to 5 grams per day.

Bang can still give you an energy boost, but that comes from its caffeine.

In September 2022, a federal jury awarded Monster Energy $293 million against VPX and its CEO.

According to Bloomberg Law's report on the Monster v. Bang verdict, $272 million of that was for false advertising, mostly tied to the Super Creatine marketing. Monster argued the ingredient lacked the benefits its branding implied.

What Are the Main Ingredients in the Bang Energy Drink?

From scrutinizing the Bang energy drink can label, you’ll notice it has zero creatine monohydrate. Instead, the creatine in Bang energy drinks is Super Creatine (creatine bonded to L-leucine, or creatyl-L-leucine). The main things you get in a 16-ounce can are:

  • 300mg caffeine
  • Zero sugar and zero calories
  • Super Creatine (amount not disclosed)
  • Several B vitamins, including niacin, B6, and B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Electrolytes such as sodium and potassium

Why Is the Addition of Creatine Crucial?

Before we confirm if creatine in Bang energy drinks is effective, we should talk about creatine and its main benefits. Creatine is a natural compound that can help you enhance your performance. In fact, it is one of the world’s most popular and most researched supplements for strength and muscle building.

Putting a form of creatine in Bang energy drinks created a new niche and gave Bang a marketing edge. Some of the benefits of creatine monohydrate include:

  • It helps your muscles produce energy: Generally, this supplement boosts the phosphocreatine stores in your muscles. In turn, phosphocreatine helps your body produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a unique molecule our bodies use for energy, among other basic functions. So when working out, ATP is broken down to produce energy.
  • Supports muscle growth: Combined with resistance training, creatine can help you add more muscle mass and strength than training alone.
  • Enhances HIIT performance: This compound enhances your body’s performance, especially during short bursts of high-intensity exercise.
  • Adds weight quickly: Some of the weight gained in the first week is water, because creatine pulls water into your muscle cells. Real muscle gains take consistent training over weeks and months.

Therefore, the presence of creatine can be quite exciting, especially for people looking for an extra edge. This begs the question “Is the Super Creatine in Bang the same as creatine?” And “Can it be effective?”

What is Super Creatine?

Super Creatine is a creatine compound patented by Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX, Bang's original maker). It is creatine bonded to L-leucine (an amino acid). Since it’s a patented proprietary compound, VPX hasn’t disclosed how much Super Creatine is in Bang energy drinks.

Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), and bonding it to creatine creates a compound that stays stable in water.

Remember, creatine is unstable in water, which is why it can’t simply be added to energy drinks. VPX created this compound because they wanted to include creatine in their drink.

Jack Owoc, Bang's founder, promoted Super Creatine as a breakthrough. Unfortunately, this compound has not been shown to raise creatine levels in our bodies.

Your body makes creatine on its own, mainly in the liver and kidneys, and gets the rest from foods like meat and seafood. Together, these cover the 1 to 3 grams you use each day.

The Super Creatine claims ended up in court. Monster sued VPX in 2018 for false advertising, and the jury sided with Monster in 2022.

The two compounds are different, and there is no evidence that Super Creatine produces the same benefits as creatine monohydrate. The lawsuit argued that the marketing misled shoppers.

Is Super Creatine Effective?

VPX claimed that Super Creatine works like natural creatine, improving your energy and helping you grow muscles. Therefore, by consuming this drink, folks believe they can enjoy the creatine benefits above, including increased muscle growth.

There is no published evidence for this. The energy kick you feel comes from the 300mg of caffeine in each can.

The FDA does not test or approve ingredients like this one for performance benefits before they are sold, so the claims rest only on the company's word. Without studies, we cannot recommend Bang as a creatine source.

On the other hand, it is sugar-free and has zero calories.

Is Bang Energy Drink Healthy?

Unlike many energy drinks, it doesn’t come with sugar or calories, which makes it appealing to folks watching their sugar and calorie intake. Still, "healthy" is a stretch for any drink with 300mg of caffeine per can.

Bang uses artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. These are approved for use in food, but the high caffeine content is the bigger concern.

The FDA notes that medical experts advise against energy drinks for children and teens. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, sensitive to caffeine, or taking certain medications should check with their doctor first.

How Much Caffeine Is in the Bang Energy Drink?

Compared to some of the top energy drinks, Bang energy drink has one of the highest caffeine contents. Caffeine can improve alertness and exercise performance, but high doses can cause side effects like a racing heart, jitters, anxiety, and poor sleep.

A 16-oz can contains 300mg of caffeine, which is one of the highest in the market.

The FDA cites 400mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects in healthy adults. One can uses up most of that, so count any coffee, tea, or pre-workout you also have that day.

Is This Energy Drink Worth It?

Well, we already covered whether Bang energy drink is healthy. We should also determine if it’s worth it. The answer will vary with your exact needs in an energy drink.

If your goal is to get caffeine, then this can be an option for you. But if your goal is muscle growth by increasing your creatine consumption, then this drink is not a good idea. And that is because it doesn’t contain creatine monohydrate.

I love it for its unique taste, but I always avoid taking more than 1 can per day. Bodybuilders should go with creatine monohydrate supplements instead of this drink, since it can’t supply the creatine their bodies need.

But generally, it will give you a strong caffeine boost.

unbranded energy drink

Final Thoughts

How much creatine is in Bang? Well, the answer is zero creatine monohydrate. Instead, it comes with Super Creatine, an ingredient Bang marketed as more effective than the natural option. There is no evidence for that claim.

A federal jury found the Super Creatine marketing to be false advertising. Bang is still a strong source of caffeine, but it is not a creatine supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much super creatine is in the Bang energy drink?

Bang hasn’t disclosed the amount of Super Creatine in its drinks. Since it is a proprietary ingredient, any figure you see is a guess.

Can drinking Bang cause high creatinine levels?

There is no good evidence that the Super Creatine in Bang affects creatinine levels. If you have kidney concerns or abnormal lab results, talk with your doctor before drinking energy drinks.

Is the super creatine legit?

There is no published evidence that Super Creatine raises creatine levels in your body. Bang hasn’t backed its claims with studies, and a federal jury found the marketing false.

Sources

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