Creatine supplementation research fails to support the theoretical basis for an effect on cognition: Evidence from a systematic review.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review of human studies
PubMed 38582412 · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114982
What was done
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation on brain creatine concentrations and cognitive function, particularly among groups hypothesized to benefit such as vegetarians/vegans, the elderly, and sleep-deprived or hypoxic individuals.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or study counts. Qualitatively, the review found that creatine supplementation increases brain creatine content, but evidence for effects on cognition remains equivocal.
Why it matters
While creatine reliably increases brain creatine levels to some extent, current evidence fails to clearly support meaningful cognitive improvements, highlighting the need for better-designed trials in stressed populations.
Limits
The abstract does not state the number of studies included, participant characteristics, search timeframe, or specific cognitive outcomes. The reviewed literature is constrained by variable supplementation regimens and infrequent direct measurement of brain creatine content.