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Creatine ethyl ester

Creatine ethyl ester suppliers and sourcing guide

Creatine ethyl ester is creatine with its carboxylic acid group esterified with ethanol. It is made by reacting creatine with ethanol under acidic conditions, usually with hydrogen chloride, and is sold almost always as the hydrochloride salt, a white crystalline powder. The ester breaks down readily in water and at neutral pH, much of it cyclizing to creatinine, so it is mainly used in capsules and dry powders rather than liquids.

Also known as
CEE · Creatine ethyl ester hydrochloride · Creatine ethyl ester HCl
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of creatine ethyl ester

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Hydrochloride powder

    Creatine ethyl ester HCl as a fine crystalline powder, the usual commercial form for capsules and powder blends.

  • Granular or encapsulation grade

    Coarser or agglomerated powder for better flow on capsule and tablet machines.

  • Blends

    Pre-mixed with creatine monohydrate or other creatine salts in multi-creatine powders.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Assay
Creatine ethyl ester content by HPLC, often with creatine content calculated, against the supplier's specification.
Creatinine and creatine
Free creatinine and free creatine by HPLC; rising creatinine shows the ester has broken down.
Process impurities
Dicyandiamide, dihydrotriazine and other process-related impurities by HPLC, against the limits in the USP Creatine monograph or the supplier's specification.
Water and residual ethanol
Water by Karl Fischer and residual ethanol by headspace GC, both of which affect stability.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, and absence of Salmonella and E. coli.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep creatine ethyl ester in tightly sealed, moisture-proof containers in a cool, dry place, because moisture and warmth speed its conversion to creatinine. Reseal opened containers quickly and avoid storing blends with ingredients that carry water. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock should be retested for assay and creatinine before use.

Lots and expiry dates

Record assay and creatinine results for each lot at receipt, and compare against a retest before use if stock has aged, since creatinine rises over time. Rotate first-expiry, first-out.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Creatine ethyl ester suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking creatine ethyl ester suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of creatine ethyl ester can brands buy?

Common forms include hydrochloride powder, granular or encapsulation grade and blends. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for creatine ethyl ester include?

Expect assay, creatinine and creatine, process impurities, water and residual ethanol, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should creatine ethyl ester be stored?

Keep creatine ethyl ester in tightly sealed, moisture-proof containers in a cool, dry place, because moisture and warmth speed its conversion to creatinine. Reseal opened containers quickly and avoid storing blends with ingredients that carry water. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock should be retested for assay and creatinine before use.

What is the regulatory status of creatine ethyl ester?

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists creatine ethyl ester (CAS 15366-29-7) as an approved chemical name, with creatine as its sub-ingredient. The database also lists creatine ethyl ester hydrochloride (CAS 15366-32-2), with creatine as its sub-ingredient. The database entry for creatine lists creatine ethyl ester among its source ingredients and states that finished product or raw material specifications must meet the process-related impurity acceptance criteria in the USP Creatine monograph or another recognized pharmacopoeia.

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