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this post was submitted on 31 May 2026
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Don'cha just love it when someone asks a small uncomplicated question? Could you be more specific regarding your question? Can you cite sources regarding creatine research being biased? In what directions?
The post above cites three articles and a podcast:
Sources:
Comprehensive brain review (Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science, 2025) Candow, D., Fabiano, N. Creatine Supplementation: More Is Likely Better for Brain Bioenergetics, Health and Function. Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science, 2025; 10. https://jpbs.hapres.com/htmls/JPBS_1766_Detail.html
CABA pilot trial (Alzheimer’s & Dementia: TRCI, 2025) Smith, A.N., Choi, I.Y., Lee, P., Sullivan, D.K., Burns, J.M., Swerdlow, R.H., et al. Creatine monohydrate pilot in Alzheimer’s: Feasibility, brain creatine, and cognition. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 2025; 11(2): e70101. DOI: 10.1002/trc2.70101 https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/trc2.70101
Cognitive meta-analysis (Frontiers in Nutrition, 2024) Xu, C., Bi, S., Zhang, W., Luo, L. The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2024; 11: 1424972. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1424972 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1424972/full
and a podcast:
Citations from the podcast: References:
Adhihetty, P. J., & Beal, M. F. (2008). Creatine and its potential therapeutic value for targeting cellular energy impairment in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuromolecular medicine, 10(4), 275–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-008-8053-y
Ahn, N., Leem, Y. H., Kato, M., & Chang, H. (2016). Effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation and exercise on depression-like behaviors and raphe 5-HT neurons in mice. Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry, 20(3), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.20463/jenb.2016.09.20.3.4
Amital, D., Vishne, T., Roitman, S., Kotler, M., & Levine, J. (2006a). Open Study of Creatine Monohydrate in Treatment-Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67(5), 836–837. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v67n0521c
Amital, D., Vishne, T., Rubinow, A., & Levine, J. (2006b). Observed effects of creatine monohydrate in a patient with depression and fibromyalgia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(10), 1840-1841. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.10.1840b
Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping Studies: Towards a Methodological Framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology: Theory & Practice, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Attwell, D., & Laughlin, S. B. (2001). An energy budget for signaling in the grey matter of the brain. Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 21(10), 1133–1145. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004647-200110000-00001
Avgerinos, K. I., Spyrou, N., Bougioukas, K. I., & Kapogiannis, D. (2018). Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Experimental gerontology, 108, 166-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013
Chen, Y., & Zhang, J. (2021). How energy supports our brain to yield consciousness: Insights from neuroimaging based on the neuroenergetics hypothesis. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 15, 648860. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2021.648860
Dedeoglu, A., Kubilus, J. K., Yang, L., Ferrante, K. L., Hersch, S. M., Beal, M. F., & Ferrante, A. R. J. (2003). Creatine therapy provides neuroprotection after onset of clinical symptoms in Huntington's disease transgenic mice. Journal of Neurochemistry, 85(6), 1359–1367. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01706.x
Fabiano, N., & Stubbs, B. (2025). Creatine as a treatment for depression: A brain bioenergetics perspective. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 96, 3-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.03.014
Faulkner, P., Paioni, S. L., Kozhuharova, P., Orlov, N., Lythgoe, D. J., Daniju, Y., Morgenroth, E., Barker, H., & Allen, P. (2021). Relationship between depression, prefrontal creatine and grey matter volume. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 35(12), 1464–1472. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211050550
Forbes, S. C., Cordingley, D. M., Cornish, S. M., Gualano, B., Roschel, H., Ostojic, S. M., Rawson, E. S., Roy, B. D., Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., & Candow, D. G. (2022). Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Brain Function and Health. Nutrients, 14(5), 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14050921
and: References:
Adhihetty, P. J., & Beal, M. F. (2008). Creatine and its potential therapeutic value for targeting cellular energy impairment in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuromolecular medicine, 10(4), 275–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-008-8053-y
Ahn, N., Leem, Y. H., Kato, M., & Chang, H. (2016). Effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation and exercise on depression-like behaviors and raphe 5-HT neurons in mice. Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry, 20(3), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.20463/jenb.2016.09.20.3.4
Amital, D., Vishne, T., Roitman, S., Kotler, M., & Levine, J. (2006a). Open Study of Creatine Monohydrate in Treatment-Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67(5), 836–837. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v67n0521c
Amital, D., Vishne, T., Rubinow, A., & Levine, J. (2006b). Observed effects of creatine monohydrate in a patient with depression and fibromyalgia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(10), 1840-1841. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.10.1840b
Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping Studies: Towards a Methodological Framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology: Theory & Practice, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Attwell, D., & Laughlin, S. B. (2001). An energy budget for signaling in the grey matter of the brain. Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 21(10), 1133–1145. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004647-200110000-00001
Avgerinos, K. I., Spyrou, N., Bougioukas, K. I., & Kapogiannis, D. (2018). Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Experimental gerontology, 108, 166-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013
Chen, Y., & Zhang, J. (2021). How energy supports our brain to yield consciousness: Insights from neuroimaging based on the neuroenergetics hypothesis. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 15, 648860. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2021.648860
Dedeoglu, A., Kubilus, J. K., Yang, L., Ferrante, K. L., Hersch, S. M., Beal, M. F., & Ferrante, A. R. J. (2003). Creatine therapy provides neuroprotection after onset of clinical symptoms in Huntington's disease transgenic mice. Journal of Neurochemistry, 85(6), 1359–1367. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01706.x
Fabiano, N., & Stubbs, B. (2025). Creatine as a treatment for depression: A brain bioenergetics perspective. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 96, 3-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.03.014
Faulkner, P., Paioni, S. L., Kozhuharova, P., Orlov, N., Lythgoe, D. J., Daniju, Y., Morgenroth, E., Barker, H., & Allen, P. (2021). Relationship between depression, prefrontal creatine and grey matter volume. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 35(12), 1464–1472. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211050550
Forbes, S. C., Cordingley, D. M., Cornish, S. M., Gualano, B., Roschel, H., Ostojic, S. M., Rawson, E. S., Roy, B. D., Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., & Candow, D. G. (2022). Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Brain Function and Health. Nutrients, 14(5), 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14050921
Gordji-Nejad, A., Matusch, A., Kleedörfer, S., Patel, H. J., Drzezga, A., Elmenhorst, D., Binkofski, F., & Bauer, A. (2024). Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation. Scientific Reports, 14, 4937. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54249-9
Hellem, T. L., Sung, Y.-H., Shi, X.-F., Pett, M. A., Latendresse, G., Morgan, J., Huber, R. S., Kuykendall, D., Lundberg, K. J., & Renshaw, P. F. (2015). A pilot study of creatine as a novel treatment for depression in methamphetamine using females. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 11(3–4), 189–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2015.1100471
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Joo, P., Lee, H., Wang, S., Kim, S., & Hudetz, A. G. (2021). Network Model With Reduced Metabolic Rate Predicts Spatial Synchrony of Neuronal Activity. Frontiers in computational neuroscience, 15, 738362. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2021.738362
Juneja, K., Bhuchakra, H. P., Sadhukhan, S., Mehta, I., Niharika, A., Thareja, S., Nimmakayala, T., & Sahu, S. (2024). Creatine Supplementation in Depression: A Review of Mechanisms, Efficacy, Clinical Outcomes, and Future Directions. Cureus, 16(10), e71638. https:/
Kaptsan, A., Odessky, A., Osher, Y., & Levine, J. (2007). Lack of efficacy of 5 grams daily of creatine in schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(6), 881-884. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v68n0609
Kious, B. M., Sabic, H., Sung, Y. H., Kondo, D. G., & Renshaw, P. (2017). An open-label pilot study of combined augmentation with creatine monohydrate and 5-hydroxytryptophan for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor–or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor–resistant depression in adult women. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 37(5), 578-583. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000000754
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