Does creatine help with depression?
Englishで書かれています。 日本語で読んでいます(AIによる翻訳)。 仕組み
Bottom line: Creatine may modestly lower depressive symptoms, but the certainty is very low. The authors of the pooled analysis rate it that way, and the effect fell below the threshold for clinical importance [1].
What the studies found:
- A meta-analysis of 11 trials (1,093 participants) found a standardised mean difference of -0.34 (95% CI -0.68 to -0.00) versus placebo. That is equivalent to 2.2 points on the 17-item Hamilton scale, below the 3.0-point minimal important difference [1].
- Effects appeared larger in people who were clinically depressed. Remission was also a secondary endpoint, and the reported results for it were significant [1].
- A systematic review of 5 randomized trials (126 on creatine, 112 on placebo) covered mostly major depressive disorder, plus one trial in bipolar depression. Doses were 2 to 10 g/day for 4 to 8 weeks, as an add-on to other treatment [2].
- Within that review, creatine plus escitalopram beat escitalopram plus placebo (Cohen's d = 1.13 at 8 weeks), and creatine plus CBT beat CBT plus placebo. In the trial of female adolescents and the bipolar depression trial, creatine showed no difference from placebo [2].
Where it is uncertain:
- Heterogeneity was substantial (I² = 71.3%). The confidence interval includes effects too small to matter, and subgroup analyses and trim-and-fill adjustments indicated substantial bias favouring creatine [1].
- Few trials exist in each depression setting. Only two of the five trials in the systematic review were at low risk of bias, and they were short (4 to 8 weeks) [2].
- Trials in healthy adults and the brain-metabolite reviews are indirect for this question. I did not rely on them.
- Long-term effects and use as a stand-alone treatment were not established in these studies.
What this does and does not support: The evidence suggests creatine is a plausible, low-certainty add-on being studied in depression, and it does not support using it in place of established treatment; discuss any individual decision with a clinician.
This is not medical advice.
Studies cited
1. Creatine supplementation for treating symptoms of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis · The British journal of nutrition · 2025 · PubMed
2. The Effect of Creatine Monohydrate on Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials: Effet du monohydrate de créatine sur les troubles mentaux : examen systématique des essais contrôlés à répartition aléatoire. Systematic review · Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie · 2026 · PubMed
Searched Europe PMC: (creatine OR "creatine monohydrate") AND (depression OR "depressive symptoms") · 10 found, 2 cited
This summarizes published research. It is not medical advice: talk to a clinician about your own situation.
Also discussed here:
- Does creatine help with depression?
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