- Creatine is a common sports supplement that is believed to increase the amount of energy muscle cells generate during exercise.
- Some research suggests it may have positive effects on aspects of brain health.
- A new study concludes that a high dose of creatine increases cognitive ability in sleep-deprived participants.
A recent paper published in the journal
Experts hope that, in the future, creatine-based interventions could help people who need to perform at a high level despite insufficient sleep, like healthcare professionals, firefighters, and night-shift workers.
However, much more research is needed before we rush out and bulk-buy creatine.
Some athletes and fitness enthusiasts take creatine supplements to enhance physical performance. However, its role in cognitive performance has recently entered the spotlight. But what is creatine, and where does it come from?
Formed of three amino acids, the human body produces around
It is also present in some food — mostly meat and fish. Someone who follows an omnivorous diet will consume around 1 g per day.
Around 95% of the body’s creatine is stored in skeletal muscle but also in the brain.
Sports scientists are interested in creatine because it helps the body regenerate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — our cells’ primary energy source.
Medical News Today spoke with Scott Forbes, PhD, about how this works. He told us that “[c]reatine gets converted into a molecule called phosphocreatine and this molecule can be broken down rapidly into energy (ATP).”
Forbes, who was not involved in the new study, is department chair of…
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