Creatine plays a pivotal role in brain energy homeostasis. Creatine supplementation is widely
used in enhancing sports performance, and has been tried in the treatment of neurological,
neuromuscular and atherosclerotic disease with a paucity of side effects.
Dechent et al (1999) studied the effect of oral creatine supplementation for 4 wk
demonstrating a statistically significant increase of mean concentration of total creatine
across brain regions. These findings suggest the possibility of using oral creatine
supplementation to modify brain high-energy phosphate metabolism in subjects with various
brain disorders, including schizophrenia and major depression. Recently, Rae et al (2003)
reported that creatine supplementation for 6 weeks had a significant positive effect on both
working memory and Raven matrices. Several independent lines of evidence suggest the possible
involvement of altered cerebral energy metabolism in schizophrenia.
We are performing a double blind cross-over study of creatine in schizophrenia.
Forty patients will be treated with creatine for 3 months in a double-blind crossover design.
Rating scales will include scales for assessing negative and positive symptoms of
schizophrenia, clinical global impressions scale, scales for side-effects and a cognitive
battery
Creatine effects on brain energy metabolism and its possible cognitive enhancing properties
raise the possibility of developing a new therapeutic strategy in schizophrenia focusing on
treating metabolic hypoactive brain areas including frontal regions.
Phase:
Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Beersheva Mental Health Center
Collaborator:
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression