The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Research snapshot:
2024 systematic review finds creatine supplements enhance memory and processing speed in adults.
2024 |
Meta-analysis |
Creatine |
Memory and processing speed |
Overview.
This systematic review and meta-analysis found that creatine supplementation significantly improves memory and processing speed in adults, particularly in those aged 18-60 and females, but did not significantly impact overall cognitive function or executive function.
Background.
A team of researchers associated with Guizhou Normal University, among other institutions, conducted this study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
Objectives.
The study aimed to evaluate the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on cognitive function in adults, focusing on memory, executive function, attention, and processing speed. It sought to provide comprehensive evidence on the cognitive benefits of creatine supplementation and guide future investigations, especially for preventing and delaying cognitive impairment-related diseases.
Study design.
This systematic review with meta-analysis included 16 randomized controlled trials involving 492 participants aged 20.8-76.4 years. The studies were conducted in various countries and included both healthy individuals and those with specific diseases. The review evaluated the effects of creatine supplementation using standardized mean differences (SMD) and Hedge’s g.
Results.
The meta-analysis showed that creatine supplementation significantly improved memory (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18-0.44) and attention time (SMD = −0.31, 95% CI: −0.58 to −0.03), as well as processing speed time (SMD = −0.51, 95% CI: −1.01 to −0.01). However, it did not significantly impact overall cognitive function or executive function.
Conclusions.
The study concluded that creatine monohydrate supplementation has beneficial effects on cognitive function, particularly in memory, attention time, and processing speed. It highlighted the need for larger, robust clinical trials to further validate these findings and explore the effects in different populations and intervention durations.
Original paper.
Xu C, Bi S, Zhang W and Luo L (2024) The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Nutr. 11:1424972. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1424972
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