BY STEVE BORN
The benefits of creatine keep coming! Once thought to be the sole domain of weightlifters and bodybuilders for its ability to help increase muscle mass and strength, newer research [1] reveals that creatine offers a much wider range of benefits, ones that benefit everyone, athlete and non-athlete alike.
The latest research on creatine is, without question, the most profound of all:
Creatine may supercharge immune cells that are key to fighting cancer [2]
Those immune cells are called dendritic cells (DCs). A bit about DCs:
- “Named for their probing, ‘tree-like’ or dendritic shapes, [they] are responsible for the initiation of adaptive immune responses and hence function as the ‘sentinels’ of the immune system." [3]
- “Dendritic cells (DC) are responsible for initiating all antigen-specific immune responses. As such, they are the master regulators of the immune response.” [4]
- “DCs also help guide the immune system to respond to foreign antigens while avoiding the generation of autoimmune responses to self. DCs are thus paradoxically important in cancer, generating both immunity and tolerance.” [4]
Note: Antigens are defined as “any substance—such as a protein, sugar, or toxin—that your immune system recognizes as a target and uses to trigger a defense response.” [5]
How creatine fits in
Earlier research [6] showed that tumor-battling “killer T cells really need creatine to fight cancer.” According to the researchers, “Without it, they simply can’t do their jobs effectively.” In this newer study, the same team of researchers discovered that creatine also fuels dendritic cells. This is important because most approved cancer immunotherapies work by targeting killer T cells directly. However, it is believed that only about 20%–40% of patients respond to these immunotherapies. By bolstering the dendritic cells that train and activate T cells, a greater percentage of patients could potentially benefit.
The researchers found that creatine supplementation raised intracellular ATP (energy) levels in dendritic cells and sustained the key inflammatory signaling pathways needed for activation. Similar to a battery storing and releasing excess energy on demand, creatine helps dendritic cells maintain stable energy levels even when competing with fast-growing tumor cells for nutrients.
The researchers found that in mouse models of melanoma, creatine supplementation slowed tumor growth significantly and increased the number and activation of dendritic cells.
Creatine also enhanced the activation of human dendritic cells in a lab dish, pointing to potential applications in dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines and as a complement to existing immunotherapies.
Together, these findings uncover a previously unrecognized role for creatine metabolism in regulating DC (Dendritic Cell) function and support the use of creatine supplementation as a strategy to augment DC-based cancer immunotherapy. [7]
Summary
From a press release:
The potential we see here is that creatine could be used in two complementary ways: as a supplement to enhance the immune response of patients already receiving immunotherapy, and as a tool to improve the quality of dendritic cell-based vaccines before they’re administered.
Together, the findings point to creatine as a potential tool for strengthening the immune system’s anti-cancer response at multiple levels, including the cells that detect the threat and set the response in motion.
Understanding how to metabolically support dendritic cells is about supporting the entire anti-tumor response, not just the killer T cells at the end of it. [2]
In addition to the many other benefits creatine supplementation offers for everyone, not just athletes…
- Energy production
- Stimulates muscle protein synthesis to aid in muscle growth
- Reduces post-exercise soreness
- Powerful antioxidant support
- Multiple brain health benefits
- Protects against muscle and bone mass loss
… according to Drs. Diego A. Bonilla, Richard B. Kreider, Kristen Drescher and Lili Yang: “The immune system is now part of the conversation. Ongoing research is exploring whether creatine can help T cells fight cancer more effectively. These are not yet clinical applications, but they are scientifically important directions that will shape the next generation of creatine research.” [8]
To obtain all the athletic performance and overall health benefits that creatine provides, you want to use the very best product. Creatine Boost contains Creapure® brand of pure creatine monohydrate produced by Alzchem Trostberg GmbH in Germany. Creapure® is the most widely studied form of creatine and is proven to be safe and effective. According to one study/analysis, “Creapure® is typically considered the gold standard.” [9]
REFERENCES:
[1] https://hammernutrition.com/blogs/endurance-news-weekly/creatine-boost
[2] https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/creatine-may-supercharge-immune-cells-key-to-fighting-cancer
[3] https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology/cells/dendritic-cells
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24777676/
[5] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24067-antigen
[6] https://stemcell.ucla.edu/news/creatine-powers-t-cells-fight-against-cancer
[7] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13091023/
[8] https://creatineforhealth.com/fueling-the-fight-against-cancer/
[9] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9761713/
