What is the relationship between creatine (creatine monohydrate) supplementation and brain health?

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Last updated: May 26, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Creatine supplementation does not have a clear association with brain health benefits, and its use should be approached with caution, particularly in individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions, as it may cause rhabdomyolysis, a potential risk factor for nephrotoxicity 1.

Key Considerations

  • The provided evidence does not directly support the use of creatine for brain health benefits, instead highlighting potential nephrotoxicity risks associated with certain dietary supplements, including creatine monohydrate 1.
  • A critical review of dietary supplements in living kidney donors notes that creatine monohydrate has been associated with rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney damage 1.
  • While creatine supplementation may have potential benefits for cognitive function, the current evidence does not provide a clear recommendation for its use in promoting brain health, particularly in the context of kidney function and potential nephrotoxicity 1.

Safety and Precautions

  • Individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions should exercise caution when considering creatine supplementation, as it may exacerbate kidney damage or lead to misclassification of acute kidney injury due to its effects on creatinine clearance measurements 1.
  • Adequate hydration is essential when taking creatine supplements to minimize potential side effects, although the evidence does not provide specific guidance on hydration protocols 1.

Conclusion is not allowed, so the answer just ends here.

From the Research

Creatine and Brain Health: Current Research

  • Creatine supplementation has been shown to have potential benefits for brain health, including improved cognitive processing and recovery from trauma 2, 3, 4.
  • Studies suggest that creatine may be beneficial for brain health, particularly in conditions characterized by brain creatine deficits, such as acute stressors or chronic pathologic conditions 2.
  • The optimal creatine protocol to increase brain creatine levels is still unknown, and further research is needed to determine the most effective dosing strategy 2, 4.

Cognitive Performance and Creatine Supplementation

  • Research has shown that creatine supplementation may have a small beneficial effect on cognitive performance, particularly in tasks that require high cognitive demand 3, 4.
  • A randomized controlled study found that creatine supplementation had a small beneficial effect on cognitive performance, but the results were not significant for all cognitive tasks 3.
  • Another study suggested that creatine supplementation may be most effective in situations where cognitive processes are stressed, such as during sleep deprivation or experimental hypoxia 4.

Safety and Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation

  • Creatine supplementation has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in healthy individuals and in patient populations 5, 6.
  • The most common adverse effect of creatine supplementation is transient water retention in the early stages of supplementation 6.
  • Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential long-term adverse effects of creatine supplementation 6.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Creatine Supplementation: An Update.

Current sports medicine reports, 2021

Research

Creatine supplementation.

Current sports medicine reports, 2013

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.