Creatine, a food supplement frequently used by professional and amateur athletes, may prevent brain damage following traumatic brain injury, according to a new research study led by Stephen Scheff, Ph.D., professor, University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and UK College of Medicine Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology . The study was published in the November issue of Annals of Neurology .
Creatine is one of a class of molecules called amino acids.
Creatine is produced naturally in the body in the liver, kidney and pancreas and is used as a way to store energy. Many athletes now use creatine as a dietary supplement to increase muscle mass, strength, and the recovery time of muscles between bursts of activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 300,000 TBIs occur each year due to sports or recreational activities. Athletes, especially those participating in sports that are likely to involve blows to the head such as football, hockey, wrestling, skiing, baseball and boxing, often experience TBIs. Most of these TBIs are concussions.