HealthlineCreatine Supplements May Help Treat Depression, Early Evidence Shows

⚠️ Small Study / Early Comparative Evidence

A systematic review evaluated 5 randomized controlled trials involving 238 participants receiving creatine supplementation for mood disorders. Some studies reported greater improvement in depressive symptoms when creatine was added to antidepressants or cognitive behavioral therapy, while others found no meaningful benefit.

Clinical Considerations

• Two reports from one trial found higher remission rates when 5 g/day of creatine was added to escitalopram.
• Creatine combined with cognitive behavioral therapy was associated with greater symptom improvement in one study.
• Other trials found little or no benefit, including treatment-resistant depression and adolescent depression cohorts.
• Two participants with bipolar disorder developed mania or hypomania, suggesting caution in susceptible populations.

Practice Applications

• Interpret creatine as an emerging adjunctive strategy rather than a standalone depression treatment.
• Recognize that evidence remains inconsistent across small heterogeneous trials.
• Monitor for mood activation when considering adjunctive therapy in patients with bipolar disorder.
• Avoid presenting creatine supplementation as an established treatment for major depressive disorder.