A new review of clinical trials finds that creatine supplements produced inconsistent effects when added to standard depression care. Two studies in women showed notable improvements, while three others reported no benefit.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa analyzed five randomized controlled trials involving 238 participants across South Korea, the United States, Brazil, Israel, and India. The review, published June 30 in Brain Medicine, examined creatine doses ranging from five to ten grams daily alongside antidepressants or therapy.
Bassam Jeryous Fares, first author and a medical student at the university, said the signal is interesting but not conclusive. "Two trials pointed one way and three pointed another," he noted. Nicholas Fabiano, corresponding author and psychiatry resident, added that adverse events were mostly mild gastrointestinal discomfort, though two bipolar patients developed mania.
The studies focused mainly on major depressive disorder, with one involving bipolar depression. Most participants were women, and trial sizes were small. Authors called for larger, longer studies before any clinical recommendations.
