A popular workout supplement might protect the brain from gut inflammation
Creatine is best known for building muscle, but a new rat study suggests it may also protect the brain. Supplemented rats with chronic colitis largely avoided the hippocampal inflammation, neuron loss, and electrical changes seen in unsupplemented animals.
A study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity reveals that creatine, a popular dietary supplement, may shield the brain from inflammation caused by gut conditions like chronic colitis. The research, conducted on male and female rats, found that creatine administration during colitis reduced hippocampal inflammation, nerve cell damage, and disrupted electrical activity.
Male rats experienced more severe colitis-related damage compared to females. The study highlights the gut-brain axis, the intricate communication network between the digestive tract and the central nervous system, which links gut inflammation to brain changes. Chronic colitis can trigger mood and cognitive issues in people with inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The research team induced colitis in rats using dextran sulfate sodium in their drinking water and administered creatine at a dose of 1 gram per kilogram of body weight for the duration of the experiment. The researchers measured hippocampal inflammation, neuronal health, and electrical properties in the rats' brains. They discovered that colitis decreased creatine levels in the hippocampus of both sexes and triggered a strong immune response in the brain.
Male rats displayed physical damage to their hippocampal neurons, including a loss of structural proteins and fewer neurons in the CA1 region, while female rats preserved their neuronal structure despite inflammation. Electrical tests revealed that colitis-induced leakiness in male rats' neurons led to a 60% increase in the minimum current needed to trigger an electrical signal, indicating reduced excitability.
Female neurons showed no significant electrical changes. Although the electrical changes were not limited to a single marker, female neurons exhibited elevated levels of a calcium channel called Cav1.2. The findings underscore the potential of creatine as a protective measure against gut inflammation's adverse effects on the brain in rodents, although further research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.
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