Creatine has long been known as a sports supplement for increasing strength and muscle mass. However, a new study by American scientists has shown that this substance may play another important role — helping the immune system recognize and attack cancerous tumors. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The work was conducted by scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, led by Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Lily Yang. The authors studied immune system cells in the laboratory, conducted experiments on mice with tumors, and analyzed human immune cells.
The focus was on dendritic cells — they are the first to recognize tumor cells and trigger an immune response by activating T-lymphocytes, which then destroy cancer cells. The researchers found that dendritic cells require creatine for normal function. When cells lost the ability to absorb this substance, they survived worse, activated more weakly, and were less effective at presenting tumor antigens to T-lymphocytes. As a result, the immune response against the tumor became less pronounced.
Conversely, adding creatine enhanced the work of dendritic cells. They produced signaling molecules more actively and more effectively triggered the work of T-lymphocytes. In experiments on mice with melanoma, daily administration of creatine was associated with slower tumor growth. The animals had an increased number of active dendritic cells and a strengthened anti-tumor immune response.
According to the authors, creatine could potentially become a supplement to modern immunotherapy methods. Unlike many existing approaches that primarily affect T-lymphocytes, creatine may enhance an earlier stage of immune defense — the activation of dendritic cells.
The study does not prove that taking creatine helps treat or prevent cancer in humans. The safety, efficacy, and optimal doses of the supplement for cancer patients have not yet been studied in clinical trials. Additionally, there are separate preclinical studies in which creatine in some models was associated with increased metastasis of certain types of tumors. Therefore, experts do not recommend considering it as a cancer treatment until large clinical trials appear.
The authors believe that the obtained data open a new direction for the development of anti-tumor immunotherapy, but today creatine remains only a promising object for further research. In a previous article, Kursiv Health listed 7 alarming symptoms that require a visit to a doctor according to Kazakhstani oncologists.