Dose–Response of Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Healthy Young Adults

Moriarty, Terence; Bourbeau, Kelsey; Dorman, Katie; Runyon, Lance; Glaser, Noah; Brandt, Jenna; Hoodjer, Mallory; Forbes, Scott C.; Candow, Darren G.

doi:10.3390/brainsci13091276

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

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“…Furthermore, the enhanced cognitive performance in the CO group could suggest a synergistic effect of creatine when combined with CAF. This hypothesis is supported by research indicating that the co-supplementation of creatine with CAF may amplify cognitive benefits, with changes potentially related to increased activation in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain critical for executive functions [ 50 ]. Such combined effects could be particularly advantageous for athletes whose sports require physical prowess, strategic thinking, and rapid decision-making under pressure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

The Effect of Creatine Nitrate and Caffeine Individually or Combined on Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Mabrey,

Koozehchian,

Newton

et al. 2024

Nutrients

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This study examined the effect of creatine nitrate and caffeine alone and combined on exercise performance and cognitive function in resistance-trained athletes. In a double-blind, randomized crossover trial, twelve resistance-trained male athletes were supplemented with 7 days of creatine nitrate (5 g/day), caffeine (400 mg/day), and a combination of creatine nitrate and caffeine. The study involved twelve resistance-trained male athletes who initially provided a blood sample for comprehensive safety analysis, including tests for key enzymes and a lipid profile, and then performed standardized resistance exercises—bench and leg press at 70% 1RM—and a Wingate anaerobic power test. Cognitive function and cardiovascular responses were also examined forty-five minutes after supplementation. Creatine nitrate and caffeine that were co-ingested significantly enhanced cognitive function, as indicated by improved scores in the Stroop Word–Color Interference test (p = 0.04; effect size = 0.163). Co-ingestion was more effective than caffeine alone in enhancing cognitive performance. In contrast, no significant enhancements in exercise performance were observed. The co-ingestion of creatine nitrate and caffeine improved cognitive function, particularly in cognitive interference tasks, without altering short-term exercise performance. Furthermore, no adverse events were reported. Overall, the co-ingestion of creatine nitrate and caffeine appears to enhance cognition without any reported side effects for up to seven days.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

The Effect of Creatine Nitrate and Caffeine Individually or Combined on Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Mabrey,

Koozehchian,

Newton

et al. 2024

Nutrients

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Part II. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Antonio,

Brown,

Candow

et al. 2024

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

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Creatine with guanidinoacetic acid improves prefrontal brain oxygenation before, during, and after a cognitive task: A randomized controlled pilot trial

Zanini,

Todorovic,

Ostojic

2024

Nutr Health

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Background: Preliminary studies suggest that creatine and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) may function as moderate vasodilators, enhancing tissue oxygen saturation. However, the potential effects of this combination on brain oxygenation in humans remain unknown. Aim: The primary objective of this randomized controlled pilot trial was to assess cerebral blood oxygenation indices following a 7-day administration of a mixture containing creatine and GAA in healthy adults. Methods: Nineteen apparently healthy young adults (mean age 21.2 ± 0.4 years; 9 females) were randomly assigned to receive either a mixture (consisting of 2 g of creatine and 2 g of GAA) or a placebo in a crossover design. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) and hemoglobin index (tHb) in the prefrontal cortex were assessed at rest (REST), during meditation that focused on mindful breathing (MED), during a three-component cognitive task (TASK), and during a post-task recovery (REC) before and after 7 days of supplementation. Results: Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures revealed statistically significant differences (treatment vs. time interaction) between interventions for SpO2 during the REST ( F = 5.733, P = 0.028), MED ( F = 5.897, P = 0.026), and REC phases ( F = 6.715, P = 0.018), indicating that the creatine-GAA mixture was more effective than placebo in enhancing oxygen saturation in the prefrontal brain both before, during, and after a cognitive task. Conclusion: These promising findings are of considerable interest for nutritional neuroscience but require validation through well-designed longitudinal trials with larger sample sizes. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06371651).

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Dose–Response of Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Healthy Young Adults

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

The Effect of Creatine Nitrate and Caffeine Individually or Combined on Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

The Effect of Creatine Nitrate and Caffeine Individually or Combined on Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Part II. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Creatine with guanidinoacetic acid improves prefrontal brain oxygenation before, during, and after a cognitive task: A randomized controlled pilot trial

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