How creatine helps muscles depending on energy levels
The regulating pathway of creatine on muscular protein metabolism depends on the energy state.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at how creatine affects muscle cells from baby chickens when they have enough food or are starving. It found that creatine helps build muscle when energy is low, but only if there’s no glucose around.
Surprising Findings
Creatine’s muscle-protective effects during starvation vanish when glucose is present.
Most people assume creatine helps regardless of diet, and many take it with sugary drinks to boost uptake. This shows that doing so might block its protective effects during low-energy states.
Practical Takeaways
Consider taking creatine during fasted or low-carb periods if aiming to preserve muscle during calorie restriction.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at how creatine affects muscle cells from baby chickens when they have enough food or are starving. It found that creatine helps build muscle when energy is low, but only if there’s no glucose around.
Surprising Findings
Creatine’s muscle-protective effects during starvation vanish when glucose is present.
Most people assume creatine helps regardless of diet, and many take it with sugary drinks to boost uptake. This shows that doing so might block its protective effects during low-energy states.
Practical Takeaways
Consider taking creatine during fasted or low-carb periods if aiming to preserve muscle during calorie restriction.
Publication
Journal
American journal of physiology. Cell physiology
Year
2022
Authors
Mingfa Sun, H. Jiao, Xiaojuan Wang, Haifang Li, Yunlei Zhou, Jingpeng Zhao, Hai Lin
Related Content
Claims (5)
When chicken muscle cells are starved, adding creatine seems to boost a key protein for energy and reduce harmful molecules, which might help the cells' powerhouses work better under stress.
In chicken muscle cells with normal energy, adding creatine seems to boost protein building and turn on key muscle growth switches in the cells.
When chicken muscle cells are starved, adding creatine seems to lower levels of two proteins that make muscles waste away — this might mean creatine helps protect muscles when there's not enough energy.
Creatine helps protect tiny muscle cells from shrinking when they're starved, but only when there's no sugar around — it seems to work only when energy is low.
Taking creatine makes your muscle cells swell, which tells your body to start building more muscle, and insulin makes this happen even better by boosting muscle-building signals and slowing down muscle breakdown.