Today, I review, link to, and embed Metabolic Mind‘s Can Creatine Help with Depression? Exploring the Science with Dr. Nick Fabiano.
All that follows is from the above resource.
Can Creatine Help with Depression? Exploring the Science with Dr. Nick FabianoApr 16, 2025Creatine isn’t just for gym gains, it supports your brain too! Creatine is best known for boosting physical performance, but research has also identified its ability to improve areas of cognitive function like memory and mood. Research suggests that when creatine is used alongside first-line treatments, like antidepressants and CBT, it may enhance therapeutic outcomes, leading to faster and more robust improvements in symptoms. In this interview, Dr. Nick Fabiano, a psychiatry resident and researcher at the University of Ottawa, joins Metabolic Mind to explore the emerging evidence behind creatine as a potential tool for improving mood and supporting mental health. In this episode we dive into:
- What creatine is and how it works in the body and brain
- The growing body of research linking creatine to improvements in depression symptoms
- How creatine may enhance energy metabolism in the brain—a key focus of metabolic psychiatry
- Its synergy with other treatments, including SSRIs and cognitive behavioral therapy
- Practical considerations around dosing, diet, and safety
- The difference between dietary and supplemental creatine
- Creatine & sleep deprivation
Creatine is a well-studied, widely available supplement, and its low risk profile makes it an intriguing candidate for further exploration in psychiatric care. While more research is needed, this conversation is a hopeful and informed look at a promising metabolic intervention. Expert Featured: Dr. Nick Fabiano X: https://x.com/NTFabiano Resources Mentioned: Dietary creatine intake and depression risk among U.S. adults
A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Creatine Monohydrate Augmentation for Enhanced Response to a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor in Women With Major Depressive Disorder
Efficacy and safety profile of oral creatine monohydrate in add-on to cognitive-behavioural therapy in depression: An 8-week pilot, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled feasibility and exploratory trial in an under-resourced area
CMEs Mentioned: Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope
Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness
