By Danielle Bitts
Creatine’s impact goes beyond the muscles.
Most famously and rightfully known for its muscle building properties, the last several years have shed light on creatine’s positive impacts on the brain. Now, an eight-week trial showed that participants taking 5g of creatine daily alongside SSRIs or CBT saw faster and more significant improvements than those on standard treatment alone.
How? Creatine helps recycle ATP, the body’s cellular energy source. Being that depression disrupts brain metabolism, this bioenergetic support could aid mental recovery. Though unlike muscle, the brain absorbs creatine slowly — meaning higher doses or longer protocols may be needed to see full effects.
Creatine monohydrate has long been celebrated for being one of the most researched supplements on the market, and recent findings only resulted in additional funding for the potent powder. A 22,000-person study linked low dietary creatine intake to higher depression risk. In sleep-deprived individuals, creatine improved cognition and reversed energy deficits.
If you needed another reason to add creatine to your supplement stack, there’s not much more of a selling point than increasing overall brain health. All aboard the creatine train, because it’s proving to be a one-way ticket to building a longer and healthier life.
[Citation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40215588/]