@Raquel what do you make of this finding?
Hi Joseph, at first, I was surprised when I saw Sergej M. Ostojic as one of the investigators. He is a prominent researcher in creatine metabolism and nutrition and, like many, has documented ties to companies involved in creatine products. I was surprise and delighted, I should say.
Studies about creatine-brain are still confusing to me (brain blood barrier, chronic high doses, much more than you would eat on a considered super health diet. Plus, I see the benefits occurring in women, not so often in men) but bloggers or media just read what serves them and this is frustrating.
I am trying to answer you while I don’t make so many English mistakes here, hold on: my views don´t sell well because I keep seeing in all kinds of beings that there´s not one formula for all and not even one formula for the same person during its entire life. The organism change. Life if full of nuance and so biology. The pilot study’s findings are fascinating (but no MRS or cognitive tests) because they challenge the assumption that sleep deprivation universally depletes circulating creatine due to increased brain demand.
It is a very small study (n=22) for any conclusion but it is interesting that it suggests that sleep deprivation may trigger a systemic INCREASE (I am not yelling haha) in creatine (significant but still within physiological range; and serum creatine, not brain creatine), possibly as a protective mechanism to support energy metabolism under stress.
My brain thinks of survival mode. It may activate some redundancy path, which I admire.
This does not negate the possible benefits of creatine supplementation to the brain observed in other studies… but the “contrary” finding seems to show a more nuanced take between sleep-creatine metabolism-brain function.
[Also, honestly, I have many more questions than opinion or answers. Just so you have an idea, I still have questions regards this actual current thinking that everyone needs to sleep for 7-8 hours without interruption, without any minimal light, the use of black outs, red light, etc. Maybe it could be perfect, ok, but historically (DNA)… some pieces don’t seem to fit. And regards creatine, in nature there are days or weeks without meat (or other nutrient/food), so I also question chronic supplementations in high doses (some people take it with water, isolated).]
But your turn. What do you make of this finding, please.
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@Raquel Yes, it is interesting and hard to understand. My guess is that the body is freeing up creatine for the brain to use more when the brain needs help. Food sources are always better than oils or powders but I take extra in powder form because it gives me a boost.
Now that I have quit caffeine, a poor nights sleep is a problem that creatine can help with.
You mention sleep. I just interviewed Marijn van de Laar PhD, author of sleep like a caveman. He is a researcher and a sleep clinician so he knows what works. He questions the same things you question. Instead of cavemen he studied the sleep habits of the Hadza. Not too many blackout curtains, or cold mattresses. And few sleep straight through the night. They get 6-6.5 hours of sleep total, not 7-9 as we are told to get. They just don’t stress about their sleep. My Oura ring is back in my desk drawer.
I’ll publish it very soon.