Creatine may protect brain from gut inflammation, study finds

Researchers at the University of Seville have found that creatine supplementation may protect the brain from damage caused by chronic gut inflammation, such as colitis. In animal studies published in the journal ‘Brain, Behavior, and Immunity’, rats receiving daily creatine showed restored creatine levels in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory.

The study observed that creatine helped reduce neuronal cell damage and normalized neuronal excitability. Researchers noted sex-based differences in the results: male subjects exhibited more severe neurological impairments and structural damage, while female subjects showed different patterns of calcium channel regulation without significant changes in electrical signal transmission.

While the findings suggest creatine could be a ‘powerful, complementary and preventive strategy’ for managing the neurological effects of inflammatory bowel diseases, scientists emphasize that these results are based on preclinical animal models. The findings cannot yet be generalized to humans.