Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
Creatine
Selected research topic
Cognition
Findings differ across measurements or study conditions. The results below keep them separate.
- Publications for this topic
- 6
- Human comparison publications
- 2
- Publications needing review
- 4
Findings in the studies
cognition
- Results were mixed for this outcome.General population · Single ingredient · one-week periods
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Controlled trial
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: creatine exposure vs placebo sequence; detailed between-arm estimate not given
- Measurement time
- one-week periods
Working memory
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Controlled trial
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (1)
- memory · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.
Representative outcome and study details
Partial research summary
Human studies reported mixed results for cognition.
These conditions come from related studies and may not describe a single paper.
Single-ingredient studies · Human studies · between-group comparison · comparator not confirmed
2 publications linked to this result (1 awaiting review included)
- Study conditions differ; results are shown descriptively and are not pooled.
- Some publications have not cleared source or interpretation review.
- Some papers could not be reviewed, so this summary covers only findings that could be confirmed.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: B
The 65.2 evidence score includes 9 independent human studies and 9 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The B tier remains conservative because of limited repetition across independent human clinical studies.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 77
Papers linked to this topic 6 · distinct papers 6 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 2 · papers needing additional review 4
A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- cognition: Sources represented in this measurement group: 2 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- memory: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Working memory: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
What the research found
cognition
Results for this measurement were mixed; no consistent conclusion can be drawn.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Working memory
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
cognition
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Single ingredient · General population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
memory
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
No reviewed caution rules are available yet. Reported caution findings are shown below.
Review 3 combination findings and 0 findings that outperformed an ingredient alone.
Findings to review with care
Side effects reported for the ingredient alone are separated from findings involving another supplement or medication.
Side effects reported with this ingredient alone
Symptoms or adverse events reported in studies without another active ingredient.
Gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle cramping1 papers
Creatine monohydrate was well tolerated but gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle cramping were reported as possibly related adverse events.Human studies · Randomized controlled trialReported improvements with combinations
Combination findings are grouped by how the study compared them. This is not a recommendation to combine ingredients.
Combinations with reported improvement
The combination showed improvement, but each ingredient's contribution is unclear.
HMBCombined supplementation of HMB and Creatine monohydrate showed a synergistic effect on aerobic power at W8, W4, and WAT compared to the sum of effects from single supplements.
탄산수소나트륨Combined creatine and sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly improved 30-m sprint and arrowhead agility performance in elite soccer players compared to placebo.
D-리보스A double-blind RCT in 53 patients with ischemic heart disease found that a combination supplement containing D-ribose, creatine, and vitamins improved cardiac double product and exercise tolerance compared to placebo, though the authors note the surrogate measure requires further validation.