A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Seville in Spain showed that creatine may help limit the damage caused by intestinal inflammation to the brain, according to results from experiments conducted on laboratory animals, which recorded an improvement in indicators of nerve cell safety and a decline in inflammation in the hippocampus region associated with memory and learning.
Results of animal experiments
The scientific website ScienceAlert reported on Thursday that the study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity showed that giving creatine to animals with colitis helped restore its levels in the hippocampus, limit nerve cell damage, and improve some indicators of neural activity affected by inflammation.
The researchers conducted the experiments by adding creatine to drinking water at a dose of one gram per kilogram of body weight daily, before stimulating colitis symptoms, while continuing to administer it throughout the duration of the experiment.
Differences between genders
The results showed that creatine contributed to limiting inflammation-related changes in the hippocampus, with clearer effects recorded in males compared to females, indicating a possible difference in neural response to inflammation between genders.
The researchers pointed out that chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, may be accompanied by changes in cognitive functions, including memory and attention, as well as feelings of mental confusion, in addition to their effects on the digestive system.
Study limitations
The researchers noted that the results pave the way for further studies on the role of creatine in limiting the neurological effects accompanying inflammatory disorders, emphasizing that current evidence is limited to preclinical experiments and is not sufficient to generalize the results to humans or prove the effectiveness of the supplement in preventing brain damage.
Creatine is a natural compound produced by the body that contributes to providing energy for cells, and it is also found in some foods, especially meat and fish, with most of it stored in muscles, while a portion is found in the brain, where it plays a role in energy production processes within nerve cells.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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