Creatine is a supplement that is claimed to increase muscle strength and increase body mass. It is of interest because many people with MS experience weakness.
Creatine is made in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It is involved in generating energy for muscle cells and other cells in the body. Creatine is available as a dietary supplement and may be obtained in the diet by eating meat and fish.
There are limited clinical studies of creatine. In healthy people, creatine supplements may improve performance for brief, high-intensity exercises. There are no published studies of creatine use specifically in MS. In people with diseases of the muscles or peripheral nerves (nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord), limited short-term studies indicate that creatine may increase strength and decrease muscle fatigue.
Creatine is usually well tolerated, although there are rare reports of creatine-induced kidney failure. The safety of creatine use for longer than eight weeks has not been studied.
In summary, research indicates that creatine may increase muscle strength in people with diseases of the peripheral nerves or muscles. However, creatine use has not been studied specifically in MS, and the safety of long-term creatine use is not known. Thus, this supplement should be used cautiously by people with MS because its effectiveness and safety have not been established. A formal clinical study of the benefits and side effects of creatine in people with MS may be worth conducting.