Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about creatine and its importance for brain health. Creatine is a molecule that is part of the phosphagen system for making energy (ATP) in cells. This system is used for quick energy, for instance, supplying necessary energy to muscles during powerlifting or sprinting. However, creatine is also used by brain cells for energy, especially in times of stress. The brain has a creatine pool that it can use when needed. Often, this pool is insufficient because the body uses creatine daily, but the diet does not supply enough to replenish. Over time, especially in aging, this leads to a deficiency. Enough creatine can be obtained from the diet by eating about one pound of meat or fish per day, but people rarely meet this level. Therefore, creatine supplementation can be used preventatively before acute stress or injury so that there is better recovery. Also, it is used therapeutically for post-concussion, post-stroke, neurodegeneration, dysautonomia, depression to improve brain function and decrease symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, and focus issues. Check out the video for more in depth information on how creatine can improve your brain health!
Reference: Dolan E, Gualano B, Rawson ES. Beyond muscle: the effects of creatine supplementation on brain creatine, cognitive processing, and traumatic brain injury. Eur J Sport Sci. 2019;19(1):1-14.
