Creatine: a new supplement for depression?

Creatine, the muscle-building supplement, could help the brain function better and might even ease depression, new research suggests.

Just 5 g of the supplement every day helps people overcome their depression even if they’re not taking any antidepressant drug, researchers at the University of Ottawa found.

Researchers took another look at five trials that had tested creatine against depression. Two of the trials involved women with major depressive disorder, and in one, participants who took 5 g of creatine daily showed meaningful improvements in depressive symptoms within just eight weeks.

The other study paired creatine with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the standard psychological treatments for depression, and found the supplement enhanced the benefits of the therapy.

The researchers sounded a word of caution: The other three trials they examined showed no benefit, and most of the studies were small. But the early results suggest that creatine deserves further investigation as a mental health supplement.

Creatine could help with depression because it provides extra energy to the brain. It may also influence neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation, including serotonin and dopamine.

Brain Med, 2026; doi: 10.61373/bm026l.0039