RESEARCH & EVIDENCE

01 — WHY CREATINE HCl

A different form. A deliberate choice.

CMPND+ contains 2g of CON-CRET® Creatine HCl per serving. We chose the hydrochloride form for its exceptional water solubility—a defining consideration for a creatine product designed to be mixed into water.

38× greater water solubility in laboratory testing.

In a peer-reviewed study comparing creatine salts, Gufford and colleagues measured approximately 38 times greater aqueous solubility for Creatine HCl than creatine monohydrate under the conditions tested.

That finding supports our choice of HCl for a drinkable creatine formula. Solubility describes how much dissolves in water; it does not establish 38 times faster absorption or greater muscle uptake.

Read the research: Gufford et al., Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2010

02 — THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CREATINE AND ELECTROLYTES

The pairing is intentional.

Creatine enters muscle cells through a specialized transporter called SLC6A8. That transporter depends on sodium and chloride gradients to move creatine across the cell membrane.

Researchers describe a transport model involving:

2 sodium ions + 1 chloride ion + 1 creatine molecule

This biology helped inspire our approach: consider creatine alongside the electrolytes involved in cellular function and hydration.

The ratio describes molecular transport, rather than a supplement mixing ratio. Research has not established that CMPND+’s electrolyte blend increases muscle creatine uptake.

Read the research: Farr et al., Frontiers in Physiology, 2022

03 — THE ELECTROLYTE FORMULA

1,060mg of electrolytes. Each with a role.

Every CMPND+ serving provides:

800mg sodium
Sodium helps regulate fluid volume outside cells, including blood plasma.

200mg potassium
Potassium helps maintain fluid balance inside cells and supports normal nerve transmission and muscle contraction.

Together, sodium and potassium help maintain the electrical and fluid balance that cells need to function. Explore the physiology: NIH potassium reference

60mg magnesium
Magnesium contributes to energy production and normal muscle and nerve function. Explore the physiology: NIH magnesium reference

These amounts are part of our deliberate formulation for active people. Individual electrolyte needs vary with diet, activity and sweat losses.

04 — CREATINE & PERFORMANCE

Support starts at the cellular level.

Creatine contributes to the phosphocreatine system, which helps regenerate ATP—the energy currency cells use during demanding activity.

Decades of research support creatine supplementation for repeated high-intensity exercise and improvements in strength and lean mass alongside training. Most of that evidence comes from creatine monohydrate.

This research establishes the foundation for creatine’s role in performance. Studies of particular forms and doses remain important when evaluating individual products.

Read the evidence: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand, 2017

05 — COMFORT & CONSISTENCY

The experience matters, too.

We built CMPND+ around a highly soluble form of creatine, a measured serving and a drinking experience designed to fit into everyday life.

Digestive comfort matters to that experience. Bloating and gastrointestinal discomfort can occur for some people taking creatine, particularly with large single doses. Greater water solubility alone does not establish that a product prevents those symptoms, and individual tolerance varies.

A loading phase is also optional in established creatine-monohydrate protocols: smaller daily doses can gradually increase muscle creatine stores. That finding does not establish dose equivalence between monohydrate and HCl.

Read the review: Common questions and misconceptions about creatine, 2021

06 — OUR APPROACH TO THE EVIDENCE

Established science. Thoughtful formulation. More to learn.

Our formulation draws on creatine physiology, published HCl solubility research and the established functions of electrolytes.

The research linked here examines ingredients and biological mechanisms. CMPND+’s finished formula has not undergone a published clinical trial establishing superior absorption, freedom from bloating or equivalence between its 2g HCl serving and 5g of monohydrate.

We believe innovation starts with asking better questions—and explaining clearly what the evidence shows.

Creatine, upgraded for your daily routine.

2g Creatine HCl. 1,060mg electrolytes. One portable serving.

Explore CMPND+