UCLA study suggests creatine could boost cancer‑fighting immune cells

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health Sciences discovered that the dietary supplement creatine can enhance the function of key immune cells involved in tumor detection and destruction. Experiments on mice and human cells showed that higher creatine levels support dendritic cells, which act as "officers of the military intelligence" of the immune system, enabling them to better activate cancer‑killing T‑cells. The enhanced immune response led to more effective targeting of tumors. The study’s authors propose that creatine supplementation might improve the efficacy of modern cancer‑immunotherapies, which currently benefit only 20‑40 % of patients. The National Cancer Institute projects about 2.1 million new cancer cases in the United States in 2026, underscoring the potential relevance of the findings.

Lead author James Elsten‑Brown said the results indicate "an antitumoral immune infrastructure that functionally benefits from increased creatine availability," while oncologist Dr. Selda Samakoglu emphasized the “energy‑providing role of creatine for the entire immune infrastructure.”