Creatine supplementation promotes cancer growth in humans.

Is it true that creatine supplementation promotes cancer growth in humans?

Partly. Evidence is mixed and only partial: one 2026 study reports creatine supplementation promoted tumor metastasis in mouse models and hyperactive platelets in healthy volunteers, while a 2015 human crossover study found no increase in carcinogenic heterocyclic amines and mouse immunotherapy work found creatine enhanced antitumor efficacy. None of the retrieved items directly establishes that creatine promotes primary cancer growth in humans.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 2 sources for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

S, X., R, C., X, S., X, N., Y, W., L, C., Y, C., S, L., M, R., L, C., Y, L., Y, X., M, C., D, Z., S, Z., L, Y., W, L., J, Z., & Y, Y. (2026). Exogenous creatine supplementation promotes tumor metastasis via megakaryocyte creatine kinase B-STAT5B signaling.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74639-z

Can creatine supplementation form carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in humans? - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP270861

Frontiers | The association between dietary creatine intake and cancer in U.S. adults: insights from NHANES 2007–2018. (n.d.). frontiersin.org. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1460057/full

In Situ Delivery of Gasdermin E mRNA Promotes Antitumor Immunity via Creatine-Elicited Type I Interferon Signaling in Monocytes. (2025). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1158/2326-6066.cir-24-0834

Data from <i>In Situ</i> Delivery of Gasdermin E mRNA Promotes Antitumor Immunity via Creatine-Elicited Type I Interferon Signaling in Monocytes. (2025). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1158/2326-6066.c.7856546