Creatine is a popular dietary supplement in the sports community that is used to improve physical performance. Researchers have now discovered in a scientific study that a high single dose of creatine can temporarily improve cognitive performance that is reduced by sleep deprivation. The study findings were published in Scientific Reports.
As part of the study, 15 test subjects were kept awake overnight and had to solve cognitive tasks during this time. Sleep deprivation leads to changes in brain metabolism that promote the cellular uptake of creatine.
Beforehand, the test subjects had received a high single dose of creatine, an important metabolic product that is found in food and can also be produced by the body itself. Three hours after taking the creatine, a positive effect on the brain metabolism and cognitive performance of the test subjects could already be observed. The effect reached its peak after four hours and lasted up to nine hours. In particular, improvements in processing capacity and short-term memory were seen.
“The results suggest that a single but high dose of creatine enhances thinking capacity and causes changes in the brain’s energy reserves during sleep deprivation,” says the coordinator of the study.
Various studies have already reported improvements in cognitive performance after a long creatine diet. The substance also counteracts the metabolic changes caused by sleep deprivation. This is why the researchers considered creatine a potential candidate for this study.
It had not previously been possible to prove the short-term effect that has now been observed, as the neuronal cells of the central nervous system (CNS) can only absorb creatine to a small extent. They normally cover their needs largely through their own synthesis. It was only by putting the brain in a “stressed” state through the experimental conditions in the study that the increased uptake of creatine in the cells was fostered.
“For the time being, however, it is not advisable for people to take such a high dose of creatine at home, as high doses of the substance put a heavy strain on the kidneys and can cause health risks,” says the author.
“However, if future studies show an increase in cognitive performance at lower doses, creatine might become a serious competitor to coffee during long working nights.”
Latest News
Men with gene mutations are…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
B cell oxidative phosphoryl…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
Human brain gene therapy us…
By newseditor
Posted 16 May
Small-molecular mimic of a…
By newseditor
Posted 16 May
Centromere structure and ch…
By newseditor
Posted 16 May
Other Top Stories
Unfolding eye protein/s biogenesis
Read more
tBID can directly trigger cell death
Read more
Botox injections may reduce anxiety
Read more
Blood-clotting protein and gum disease
Read more
Genetic risk factors in sudden unexplained death in children (SUDC)
Read more
Protocols
Breast cancer-on-chip for p…
By newseditor
Posted 16 May
Methods for making and obse…
By newseditor
Posted 15 May
Mime-seq 2.0: a method to s…
By newseditor
Posted 13 May
Improved detection of DNA r…
By newseditor
Posted 09 May
Single-cell adhesive profil…
By newseditor
Posted 07 May
Publications
Obesity-induced blood-brain…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
CRISPR/Cas9 model of prosta…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
Modulation of host immunity…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
Variability in cell divisio…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
Biallelic BORCS8 variants c…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar