Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33578876›Full record

ReviewNutrients2021

Creatine Supplementation and Brain Health.

Hamilton Roschel, Bruno Gualano, Sergej M. Ostojic, Eric S. Rawson

3 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Nutrients, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 81 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
81citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
12.5field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05562232 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Creatine Monohydrate on Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms - a Pilot Study Protocol

TypeinterventionalSponsorPsychiatric Research Unit, Region Zealand, DenmarkRan2023 to 2024Enrolled45ConditionsMild Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, BrainArmsCreatine Monohydrate
NCT06208813 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Assigned Creatine Ingestion With Usual Diet or Usual Diet Alone.

TypeinterventionalSponsorSan Diego State UniversityRan2024 to 2027Enrolled20ConditionsConcussion, BrainArmsCreatine
NCT06948149 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Examining the Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training on Cognition and Brain Health in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: a 26 Week Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorWestern University, CanadaRan2026 to 2027Enrolled140ConditionsCreatine, Exercise, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)ArmsCreatine monohydrate, Resistance training
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

81 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 153 citations in OpenAlex.

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  17. Creatine in women's health: bridging the gap from menstruation through pregnancy to menopause.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025
    Review
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21 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Hamilton RoschelApplied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group, Rheumatology Division, School of Physical Education and Sport, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-9513-6132
Bruno GualanoApplied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group, Rheumatology Division, School of Physical Education and Sport, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil.
Sergej M. OstojicFSPE Applied Bioenergetics Lab, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-7270-2541
Eric S. RawsonDepartment of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, USA.
Universidade de São Paulo · BRMessiah University · USUniversity of Novi Sad · RS

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

There is a robust and compelling body of evidence supporting the ergogenic and therapeutic role of creatine supplementation in muscle. Beyond these well-described effects and mechanisms, there is literature to suggest that creatine may also be beneficial to brain health (e.g., cognitive processing, brain function, and recovery from trauma). This is a growing field of research, and the purpose of this short review is to provide an update on the effects of creatine supplementation on brain health in humans. There is a potential for creatine supplementation to improve cognitive processing, especially in conditions characterized by brain creatine deficits, which could be induced by acute stressors (e.g., exercise, sleep deprivation) or chronic, pathologic conditions (e.g., creatine synthesis enzyme deficiencies, mild traumatic brain injury, aging, Alzheimer's disease, depression). Despite this, the optimal creatine protocol able to increase brain creatine levels is still to be determined. Similarly, supplementation studies concomitantly assessing brain creatine and cognitive function are needed. Collectively, data available are promising and future research in the area is warranted.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsAgingAlzheimer DiseaseBlood-Brain BarrierBrainBrain ConcussionBrain InjuriesCognitionCreatineExerciseFemaleHealth StatusHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesCreatinePerformance-Enhancing Substancesbrain injurycognitionconcussiondietary supplementphosphorylcreatine

Identifiers

PMID33578876
PMCPMC7916590
OpenAlexW3129109703

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.