Creatine as a food supplement for the general population
Sergej M.Ostojic Journal of Functional Foods Volume 83, August 2021, 104568
Highlights
• Creatine is non-proteinogenic amino acid available from various animal-based foods.
• Lower-than-expected dietary creatine intake is accompanied by various health risks.
• General public may benefit from creatine to prevent and manage health conditions.
• Supplementation could be sound strategy to supply enough creatine in food systems.
Creatine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid available from various animal-based foods or synthesized endogenously in the human body. A number of recent population-based studies demonstrate a lower-than-expected dietary creatine intake across age- and gender-specific cohorts, with low creatine consumption accompanied by various health risks. Those studies suggest that the general public may benefit from creatine to prevent and manage various health conditions or to ensure advanced growth. Favorable safety and promising impact of supplemental creatine on human well-being and functioning emanated from plenty of small-sampled interventional studies perhaps suggest a need for recommending creatine to the general public. In this opinion paper, I have outlined the possible rationales for endorsing supplemental creatine ubiquitously, and discussed opportunities and challenges for population-wide creatine use.
