Creatine May Do More Than Boost Muscle Performance

Creatine's reputation as a gym staple may be getting an upgrade. UCLA researchers report that the supplement, best known for boosting muscle performance, also appears to energize key immune cells that help the body target tumors—at least in mice and lab-grown human cells, reports the Independent. In a study published in iScience, scientists found that dendritic cells inside mouse tumors ramped up the gene that lets them import creatine, per a release. When researchers blocked that transporter, the cells struggled: They survived poorly and were far worse at priming cancer-killing T-cells.

Daily creatine injections, by contrast, slowed melanoma growth in mice and increased both the number and activity of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells. Lab tests on human dendritic cells showed that creatine made them better at activating T-cells, hinting it might improve dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines. The team stresses this is early-stage work, not evidence that cancer patients should start taking creatine on their own. Clinical trials will still be needed to see whether supplementing with creatine can safely boost the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies.