Creatine may have mental health benefits

One of the most popular dietary supplements in the world of physical activity, creatine, may also have benefits for mental health, especially in combination with therapy or antidepressants, scientists believe.Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, recently posted on the social network X, that the available data suggests that daily creatine intake, within the context of the average North American diet, can influence mood."Creatine is mostly thought of as a supplement for physical health, but its role in the brain is overlooked," said Dr. Fabiano, who recently commented on a study on this subject published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology.The human body naturally produces creatine. It is also found in protein-rich animal products. The substance helps provide energy to cells.About 95% of creatine is stored in the muscles, but the remaining 5% is stored in the brain, kidneys and liver."Even though it's a small percentage, it seems to have a significant effect," emphasized Dr. Fabiano.There was already evidence that creatine can enhance the effect of antidepressants, but the scientific evidence regarding its benefits for patients receiving cognitive behavioral therapy was less robust.Researchers at the University of Oxford recruited around 100 depressed subjects to further investigate the subject. Half of them received cognitive behavioral therapy and a creatine supplement, and the other half received the therapy and a placebo.At the end of the study, which was discussed by Dr. Fabiano, the subjects who received creatine had depression rated as "mild," compared to depression rated as "moderate" for the control group. In short, creatine appeared to double the effectiveness of the therapy.The mechanisms involved are unclear. Initially, it could be that creatine provides the individual with the energy they need to be more physically active and more sociable, and that this has an impact on their mental health.Other specialists believe that creatine could provide additional energy to the brain regions affected by depression, such as those that regulate emotions.But ultimately, said Dr. Fabiano, the goal is to be able to offer more treatment options to patients, beyond the therapy and medication currently offered as first-line treatments."Perhaps some patients are uncomfortable with this. Antidepressants can have side effects. But perhaps creatine could be a unifying factor, since we've seen benefits for therapy, benefits for depression, and probably benefits for exercise from an antidepressant perspective," he said.However, it's important to keep in mind, Dr. Fabiano concluded, that no single element, taken individually, will solve everything. But taken together, "maybe it will help you overcome the obstacles in your life.""Each tool can help, but there's no one tool that will do everything," he said.

Creatine may have mental health benefits

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