The Study
The Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation in Improving Cognitive Performance in Adolescents: A Phase-II, Triple-Blind, Randomized Study Protocol
This study is like a recipe for a big test. It tells us exactly how to check if taking creatine helps teenagers think better. But we haven't actually done the test yet, so we can't say if it works. The results will come later.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This is a plan for a study that will give some teenagers (15-17 years old) who have low school grades either a creatine supplement or a placebo (fake supplement) every day for 12 weeks. They will test their thinking skills before and after to see if creatine helps.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 569 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1A 3-point improvement on the Raven's test could move a student from the 50th to the 75th percentile, which is a meaningful gain.
- 2But we don't know if it will happen.
- 3No results yet – the study hasn't been done.
- 4They plan to test 116 teenagers and look for a difference in a test of intelligence (Raven's Matrices).
- 5They expect that creatine might improve scores by at least 3 points compared to placebo.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research Journal
Year
2023
Authors
Salma K Ahmed, Gauruv Bose, A. Adenuga, C. E. Insfrán, Carolina Ashihara, D. Sacoto, Delaney Orbaugh, Isra Ahmed, Javiera Vargas, Jefferson Luiz Gross, July N Alves, M. Moreno, M. Turza, M. Lobo, Olivier Forian Clerc, Pablo Morejon-Jaramillo, P. Lora, R. Cordeiro, Rodrigo Niño, Samah N Gashey, Sara Hayder Ahmed, S. Salameh, Yuri Chemale, T. G. Moreira
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking creatine supplements increases the speed at which the brain processes information.
Creatine supplements do not cause serious side effects in teenagers. Research and FDA safety designation support that it is safe for use.
Taking creatine for 12 weeks improves cognitive skills such as processing speed, working memory, and non-visual working memory in teenagers who perform below average in school.
Creatine supplements improve cognitive function in adolescents with low school performance. This supports its widespread use and impacts educational policies and self-esteem.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.