Dietary muscle aid helps brain - scientists

Creatine might now have a novel new application, thanks to a team of researchers from the University of Auckland. Photo / Thinkstock

A popular muscle-boosting dietary supplement could also be used to protect our brains, New Zealand scientists have found.

Creatine - which in the past has stirred controversy over whether it should be used in professional sports including rugby - might now have a novel new application, thanks to a team of researchers from the University of Auckland.

Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests creatine could help defend the brain when its oxygen supply is reduced.

"The brain requires a constant supply of oxygen and is highly vulnerable when this supply is reduced by injury or disease," said Dr Nick Gant, who led the study alongside Professor Winston Byblow and PhD student Clare Turner at the university's centre for brain research.

"We set out to help improve the brain's natural defences and think we've discovered a way of doing this."

The secret to creatine's success is that it requires no oxygen to make energy - and the researchers found it was stored in areas of the brain that are easily oxygen deprived.

"Athletes have been getting an energy boost for their muscles from creatine for over 20 years," Dr Gant said. "Creatine [use] increases the amount of useable energy stored in muscle and our research shows it has a similar effect within the brain."

The ability to sustain attention was the area of mental performance that was improved most by creatine.

The team are investigating creatine as a treatment for concussion and possible brain repair.