Creatine and the Liver: Metabolism and Possible Interactions.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the role of glycine in creatine synthesis, its metabolic effects, and potential benefits in conditions like fatty liver disease and neuroprotection.
Results Summary
The study found that glycine-derived creatine synthesis plays a key role in energy buffering, reduces fat accumulation in the liver, and may offer neuroprotective effects. However, potential adverse effects like oxidative stress and carcinogenic compound formation were noted as understudied.
Population
Not specified (general metabolic and neurological contexts implied).
Effective Dosage
Not mentioned.
Duration
Not mentioned.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Creatine administration | decrease | the consumption of S-adenosyl methionine | - | - | is known to decrease | #1 |
Creatine administration | decrease | the homocysteine production in liver | - | - | reduce | #2 |
Creatine administration | decrease | fat accumulation | - | - | diminishing | #3 |
Creatine administration | decrease | fatty liver and non-alcoholic liver disease | - | - | resulting in beneficial effects | #4 |
creatine supplementation | increase | brain energy | - | - | could supply | #5 |
creatine supplementation | decrease | encephalopathy induced by hyperammonemia in acute liver failure | - | - | presenting neuroprotective effects | #6 |
creatine supplementation | decrease | oxidative stress | - | - | Antioxidant effects have been found | #7 |
creatine supplementation | increase | oxidative stress | - | - | it can increase | #8 |
creatine supplementation | increase | carcinogenic compounds | - | - | potentially form | #9 |
The process of creatine synthesis occurs in two steps, catalyzed by L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) and guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase (GAMT), which take place mainly in kidney and liver, respectively. This molecule plays an important energy/pH buffer function in tissues, and to guarantee the maintenance of its total body pool, the lost creatine must be replaced from diet or de novo synthesis. Creatine administration is known to decrease the consumption of Sadenosyl methionine and also reduce the homocysteine production in liver, diminishing fat accumulation and resulting in beneficial effects in fatty liver and non-alcoholic liver disease. Different studies have shown that creatine supplementation could supply brain energy, presenting neuroprotective effects against the encephalopathy induced by hyperammonemia in acute liver failure. Creatine is also taken by many athletes for its ergogenic properties. However, little is known about the adverse effects of creatine supplementation, which are barely described in the literature, with reports of mainly hypothetical effects arising from a small number of scientific publications. Antioxidant effects have been found in several studies, although one of the theories regarding the potential for toxicity from creatine supplementation is that it can increase oxidative stress and potentially form carcinogenic compounds.