Is it now appropriate to assert that creatine supplementation holds cognitive benefits for the elderly?
Source: By:Marco Machado
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jgm.v6i1.6205
Abstract:This paper explores the potential cognitive benefits of creatine supplementation for the elderly population. Creatine, known for its role in muscular and neuronal energy metabolism, is primarily obtained through dietary intake, particularly from meat sources. The literature underscores creatine's significance in neural tissue development and cognitive capacity, with deficiencies linked to impaired cognitive function, especially in infants. In the context of the aging global population, cognitive decline is a prevalent concern, and reduced creatine concentration is implicated in this process. While association studies suggest a connection between creatine intake and cognitive performance in the elderly, the absence of robust clinical trials calls for further investigation. Physiological plausibility supports the idea that increased creatine intake, combined with physical activities, could positively impact cognition in the elderly. However, the existing evidence remains inconclusive, and rigorous randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials are essential to establish a cause-and-effect relationship and elucidate underlying mechanisms. Confirmation of cognitive benefits could pave the way for determining optimal dosages to enhance cognitive function in the elderly.
References:[1] Eckert, I., & Pascher, E. (2023). Letter to the Editor: Double-counting due to inadequate statistics leads to false-positive findings in "Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". Nutrition reviews, 81(11), 1495–1496. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac108 [2] Forbes, S. C., Candow, D. G., Ferreira, L. H. B., & Souza-Junior, T. P. (2022). Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Properties of Muscle, Bone, and Brain Function in Older Adults: A Narrative Review. Journal of dietary supplements, 19(3), 318–335. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2021.1877232 [3] Kossioni A. E. (2023). Baby boomers in Europe: demography, socioeconomic and health status, and oral health needs. Special care in dentistry: official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, 43(3), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.12838 [4] Machado, M., Masterson, T. D., & Oliveira, E. F. (2022). Could dietary creatine intake modulate overweight elderly's selective attention and inhibitory function?. Nutrition and health, 2601060221127497. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060221127497 [5] Ostojic, S. M., Korovljev, D., & Stajer, V. (2021). Dietary intake of creatine and risk of medical conditions in U.S. older men and women: Data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Food science & nutrition, 9(10), 5746–5754. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2543 [6] Roschel, H., Gualano, B., Ostojic, S. M., & Rawson, E. S. (2021). Creatine Supplementation and Brain Health. Nutrients, 13(2), 586. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020586 [7] Shafqat, A., Khan, S., Omer, M. H., Niaz, M., Albalkhi, I., AlKattan, K., Yaqinuddin, A., Tchkonia, T., Kirkland, J. L., & Hashmi, S. K.(2023). Cellular senescence in brain aging and cognitive decline. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 15, 1281581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1281581 [8] Sklirou, E., & Lichter-Konecki, U. (2018). Inborn Errors of Metabolism with Cognitive Impairment: Metabolism Defects of Phenylalanine, Homocysteine and Methionine, Purine and Pyrimidine, and Creatine. Pediatric clinics of North America, 65(2), 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2017.11.009 [9] Stares, A., & Bains, M. (2020). The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001), 43(2), 99–112. https://doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222 [10] Stromberger, C., Bodamer, O. A., & StöcklerIpsiroglu, S. (2003). Clinical characteristics and diagnostic clues in inborn errors of creatine metabolism. Journal of inherited metabolic disease, 26(2-3), 299–308. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1024453704800 [11] Wyss, M., & Kaddurah-Daouk, R. (2000). Creatine and creatinine metabolism. Physiological reviews, 80(3), 1107–1213. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.2000.80.3.1107