Creatine did not slow ALS progression in clinical trials, despite its role in cell energy
Original source
Creatine: the small molecule quietly rewriting the story of brain energy (opens in a new tab)You Nutrition Clinic has a commercial interest in this subject. Compass summarises the reporting; it is not independent analysis, and it is not clinical evidence.
Creatine supplementation did not improve survival or slow functional decline in a large ALS trial. A later review of randomised trials reached the same conclusion. In a long-term ALS study, creatine was generally well tolerated, although water retention and some gastrointestinal symptoms were more common.
Why this matters
These findings do not support creatine as a disease-modifying treatment for ALS. They suggest that supporting cellular energy with creatine does not overcome the wider processes driving motor-neurone loss. Anyone considering creatine should discuss it with their healthcare team rather than treating it as a cure.
Limitations and context
This is an expert review from a sponsored nutrition clinic, rather than new primary research. The review summarises older clinical trials and does not establish that creatine has no possible effects on individual symptoms or other outcomes.