In mouse models of colorectal and breast cancer, dietary creatine supplementation causes increased tumor spread and reduced survival time compared to mice not given creatine.
See the scientific wording
Dietary creatine supplementation promotes metastasis of colorectal and breast cancers in orthotopic mouse models, as evidenced by increased tumor spread and reduced survival time compared to controls.
Correlational — new studies may shift this
ObservationalOne low-scoring study links this claim to the outcome, but causation is not established.
What the research says
1 study reviewedSupporting (1)
Creatine promotes cancer metastasis through activation of Smad2/3.
Cohort StudyAnimal2021
The study gave creatine to mice with cancer and found that it caused more cancer spread and shorter lives, matching the claim exactly.
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting studies found yet
That doesn't mean it's settled — it just means no study has tested the opposite.
Quality-weighted scoring: we follow the GRADE framework — each study is rated High, Moderate, Low, or Very Low based on study design, methodology rigor, and risk of bias. A single high-quality RCT can outweigh several weaker observational studies.
Scores reflect study quality, not just count.
Creatine from food or made by the body turns on a protein called MPS1. MPS1 adds a tag to two other proteins (Smad2 and Smad3). These tagged proteins then switch on genes called Snail and Slug that help cancer cells spread to other organs.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting study
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In mouse models of colorectal and breast cancer, dietary creatine supplementation causes increased tumor spread and reduced survival time compared to mice not given creatine.
Mechanism
1 studyCreatine, whether from diet or made by the body, turns on a series of molecules inside cancer cells that make the cells more likely to spread. This process starts with MPS1, then Smad2/3, and finally Snail and Slug, which are the ones that actually promote metastasis.
Creatine from food or made by the body turns on a protein called MPS1. MPS1 adds a tag to two other proteins (Smad2 and Smad3). These tagged proteins then switch on genes called Snail and Slug that help cancer cells spread to other organs.
Creatine, either from dietary supplementation or synthesized by GATM, activates the kinase MPS1.
Activated MPS1 phosphorylates Smad2 and Smad3.
Phosphorylated Smad2/3 upregulate expression of the transcription factors Snail and Slug.
Upregulated Snail and Slug promote cancer metastasis and reduce survival.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
Creatine promotes cancer metastasis through activation of Smad2/3.
The study gave creatine to mice with cancer and found that it caused more cancer spread and shorter lives, matching the claim exactly.
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
Score Breakdown
No multi-axis breakdown available yet. The overall Pro / Against score above is the best signal.
- No clinical evidence is available; the score reflects mechanistic plausibility only.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Systematic Review of Dietary Creatine Supplementation and Cancer Metastasis in Orthotopic Mouse Models
Comprehensive search of databases for all controlled animal studies examining creatine supplementation and metastasis in orthotopic mouse models, with meta-analysis of tumor spread and survival outcomes.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Dietary Creatine vs Placebo in Orthotopic Mouse Models of Colorectal Cancer
Orthotopic mouse model of colorectal cancer randomized to receive dietary creatine or placebo, with measurement of metastatic burden and survival over a defined period.
Case-Control Study of Creatine Exposure in Orthotopic Mouse Models of Colorectal Cancer with vs without Metastasis
Retrospective comparison of creatine exposure (dietary supplementation) between mice that developed metastasis (cases) and those that did not (controls) in orthotopic colorectal cancer models.
Controlled Animal Study of Dietary Creatine Supplementation and Metastasis in Orthotopic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer
Orthotopic mouse model of breast cancer, with one group receiving dietary creatine and a control group receiving standard diet, assessing tumor spread and survival.