Taking a large dose of creatine might help keep the brain's chemical balance more stable when people stay awake all night, preventing the normal acidification that happens with sleep loss.
Scientific Claim
A single high dose of creatine (0.35 g/kg) may prevent the sleep deprivation-induced drop in cerebral pH levels in young healthy adults undergoing 21 hours of partial sleep deprivation, potentially maintaining more stable brain chemistry during extended wakefulness.
Source Excerpt
“Further evidence for the increased Cr uptake is the observed stabilization or decrease of Pi and a prevented drop of the pH level during SD. Increased Pi, such as in the case of increased cellular energy consumption, is a robust indicator of increased acidity in the cytosol. An effect of creatine preventing acidification was reported by Rico-Sanz et al.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting Studies
Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation
The study measured pH levels using 31P-MRS and found that creatine prevented the normal decline in pH that occurs during sleep deprivation, with the authors noting this as evidence of creatine's effect on brain energy metabolism.