Cancer: Common Supplement Creatine Improves T Cell Response and Health in Mice

By John S. James, 2019-11-30

Chemical Diagram of Creatine Molecule

Chemical structure of the creatine molecule. Image credit: Ben Mills and Jynto, Creatine-3D-balls, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons

On October 18 researchers reported that adding creatine to the diet helped suppress two different kinds of cancer in mice - especially when combined with certain immunotherapies. "Our study showed that creatine supplementation suppressed tumor growth in multiple mouse tumor models, including the B16 melanoma model (Fig. 5) and the MC38 colon cancer model (Fig. 6), suggesting that this treatment may provide a general therapeutic benefit to many different types of cancer." The scientists believe that the extra creatine gave T cells an additional source of quick energy when needed, helping them kill cancer cells.

Creatine is a non-protein amino acid. In humans, some creatine is produced by the body, and also some is obtained from the diet (meat and fish are good sources). Bodybuilders and other athletes have used doses of 3 to 5 grams per day, or even 10 grams a day or more, suggesting that a more moderate dose such as 2,500 mg (2.5 grams) per day or less is likely to be safe for most adults. And the U.S. price of 2,500 mg is very low, often less than 20 cents per day. The best human dose for cancer treatment or prevention (if creatine helps at all) is unknown.

Treatments that work in mice often fail in people. But in this case the mechanism of action makes sense for both. And the downside cost of using moderate doses of the supplement (after checking for contraindications) is low. (For contraindications and other safety information, see http://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/873.html).

Note: Early treatment for cancer is best -- especially because cancer often evolves ways to turn off the body's defenses against it, since the cells that can do so have a big survival advantage. But usually cancer has been developing for years before there is any sign of illness, and before it could be diagnosed even with the best medical care that exists today. So a treatment with low side effects might work best as a "preventive" - really a very early treatment that may stop or slow cancer as it begins, long before diagnosis.

Check with your doctor before starting creatine or other supplements - especially if you are being treated for a medical condition. Most doctors will not know about the cancer research described here, because they are trained to deliver standard of care, which requires clinical trials involving years of administrative and funding delays. But your doctor may know some reason that a supplement that is safe for most people might be harmful to you.

Relief of Fatigue

There are many reports of creatine reducing fatigue. Search for "creatine fatigue" (with or without the quotation marks - these are different searches).

My Experience

I started 2,500 mg of Creatine, once per day with meals, on October 29, 2019, and promised a report here by December 1 on my first month of use. I'm still on the same dose, but it's too early to draw conclusions. Incidentally, this dose costs $0.16 (16 cents) per day, on Amazon.

Obviously it's impossible to tell from personal experience if a cancer preventive is working. Not getting cancer doesn't prove it worked - and getting cancer doesn't prove it failed, since no one expects any treatment today to be 100% effective.

So I'm looking at the minor effect that can be followed in one's life - an energy reserve that helps accomplish goals effectively (instead of being overcome by fatigue and needing excessive sleep). After one month the creatine still seems to be helping, though less than it did at first. I'm continuing with the same (relatively low) dose for now.

For More Information on Creatine

Link to share this article: www.healthspannow.com/cancer-creatine.html

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