Creatine – best known as a sports supplement that improves strength – could also help fight cancer, a study has suggested.
The cost-effective supplement not only boosts athletic performance but also a class of immune cells that activate and prepare the body to fight cancer, according to scientists at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).
Previous studies in mice found creatine powers killer T-cells – white blood cells that help the body destroy cancer cells and viruses. Now, the team has discovered that the supplement fuels dendritic cells, which capture tumour fragments and direct killer T-cells to attack.
Most immunotherapies work by targeting killer T-cells, but fewer than half of patients respond. But scientists have suggested creatine may help boost the treatment using its effect on dendritic cells.
Lili Yang, the study’s senior author, a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics at UCLA, said: “Immunotherapy has shown remarkable promise, but it only works for a subset of patients.
“What this study shows is that creatine doesn’t just help the T cells fighting cancer – it also energises the entire infrastructure that supports and guides them. That makes creatine a promising supplement to holistically support the immune response that modern immunotherapies depend on.”
For the study, published in the journal iScience, researchers tested whether daily injections of creatine in mouse models of melanoma would slow tumour growth.
They found that it not only slowed growth but also increased the activity of the dendritic cells that entered tumours. The treated dendritic cells also released higher levels of chemical signals that attracted additional immune cells into the tumour.
Scientists also found creatine supplementation increased energy levels in dendritic cells.
The researchers compared creatine's role to that of a rechargeable battery, allowing dendritic cells to store and release energy as needed, even while competing with rapidly growing tumour cells for limited nutrients.
James Elsten-Brown, a co-first author and graduate student in Prof Yang’s lab, said: “The potential we see here is that creatine could be used in two complementary ways: as a supplement to enhance the immune response of patients already receiving immunotherapy, and as a tool to improve the quality of dendritic cell-based vaccines before they’re administered.”
The research suggests creatine could be used as a tool for strengthening the immune system’s anti-cancer response. But because the study was conducted in cells and mice, not patients, no dietary or medical recommendations should yet be drawn from it.
Although the supplement has been used for decades and is considered safe, patients undergoing cancer treatment should consult their doctor before adding a supplement to their treatment, researchers warn.
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