The Claim

Six weeks of creatine supplementation at 5g/day has no differential effect on cognitive performance between vegetarians and omnivores.

Source: The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance—a randomised controlled study

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
90score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Taking 5 grams of creatine daily for six weeks does not improve cognitive performance more in vegetarians than in people who eat meat.

See the scientific wording

Creatine supplementation at 5g/day for six weeks does not differentially benefit vegetarians compared to omnivores in cognitive performance, despite theoretical expectations that vegetarians may have lower baseline brain creatine levels.

Why this might work

When someone takes creatine every day, their brain absorbs more of it and turns it into a stored energy form called phosphocreatine. When the brain works hard, like during memory or reasoning tasks, it uses up energy quickly. Phosphocreatine gives up its energy to make more ATP, the fuel that brain cells need to keep working. This keeps the brain running smoothly under high demand, which could help thinking tasks. But even though vegetarians start with less creatine in their brains, adding creatine doesn't make their brains work better than omnivores' brains after six weeks.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance—a randomised controlled study

    Even though vegetarians eat less creatine than meat-eaters, taking creatine supplements for six weeks didn’t help them think better than meat-eaters did—both groups saw almost no improvement.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.