The Study
Does creatine affect lipid profile? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials
This study is like a report card that combines the results from 8 different experiments where people took creatine or a fake pill, and then checked their cholesterol. Because the experiments were well done (randomized and placebo-controlled), we can get a pretty good idea of whether creatine changes cholesterol. But the results say creatine doesn't seem to make a difference—your cholesterol stays about the same whether you take it or not. However, because not all the experiments were perfect, we can't be 100% sure.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Creatine is a popular supplement for muscles. This study looked at whether creatine pills change the levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood. Researchers combined results from 8 studies where some people took creatine and others took fake pills (placebo).
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 553 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1For a person, these tiny changes are not enough to affect heart health or to recommend creatine as a way to improve cholesterol.
- 2No big differences were found between creatine and placebo groups.
- 3For example, total cholesterol changed by only about 3 mg/dL, which is very small and could be due to chance.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Year
2026
Authors
F. V. M. Gimenez, Natalia Pasternak, Lívia Santesso, L. B. A. Da Silva, Lara A. Girotto, B. Candeloro, S. Barbalho, A. A. Porto, R. D. Raimundo, L. D. de Abreu, Vitor E. Valenti
Related Content
Claims (6)
Scientists have low confidence in the evidence about creatine's effect on LDL and HDL cholesterol, and very low confidence for total cholesterol and triglycerides. This is because the studies have imprecision and indirectness, meaning the results are not precise or directly applicable to the question.
Many clinical trials had quality issues because they did not fully report all their planned outcomes, which can bias results.
Creatine supplementation for up to 12 weeks does not significantly change cholesterol or triglyceride levels in adults. This conclusion comes from a meta-analysis of 8 placebo-controlled trials.
Creatine changes how the body handles fats in animal and cell studies, but human trials show no meaningful effect on blood lipid levels.
Creatine supplementation is safe and well-tolerated. It does not increase the risk of kidney, liver, or heart problems compared to a placebo, according to data from over 12,800 participants.
Comparing creatine with exercise to creatine alone shows no difference in cholesterol or triglyceride levels. However, triglyceride results vary across studies.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.