Can Creatine Help with Depression? Exploring the Science with Dr. Nick Fabiano

Creatine 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?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Resources Mentioned:

Dietary creatine intake and depression risk among U.S. adults

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0741-x

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

• https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12010009

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

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.10.004

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.