Systematic Review Finds Mixed Results for Creatine in Depression Trials

A systematic review published in Genomic Press’ Brain Medicine examined creatine monohydrate as a potential add-on treatment for depression and found inconsistent results across five randomized controlled trials. Fox News reported that Canada-based researchers analyzed the trials, four of which studied major depressive disorder and one of which studied bipolar disorder with a current depressive episode.

One trial showed greater improvement after eight weeks among women with depression who took 5 grams of creatine daily alongside the antidepressant escitalopram.

Another trial found benefit when creatine was added to cognitive behavioral therapy. Three other trials, including studies of teen girls using various dosages and a bipolar depression study using 6 grams added to medication for six weeks, showed no significant benefit. Researchers noted that people with mood disorders process creatine differently in the brain.

Bassam Jeryous Fares, a student in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, stated the signal is interesting but not a verdict. He added that two trials pointed one way and three pointed another, describing the evidence as insufficient to change clinical practice but sufficient to justify further exploration.

Nicholas Fabiano, a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, said creatine appears to be a safe intervention with side effects limited to mild stomach pain.

He cautioned that it is not yet possible to reliably say creatine helps with depressive symptoms or that the findings apply to everyone. Dr. Thea Gallagher, psychologist and director of wellness programs at NYU Langone, said creatine helps the brain produce and use energy and could support pathways altered in some people with depression.