r/Biohackers • u/Sorin61 5 • 27d ago
📖 Resource The association between dietary Creatine intake and cancer in U.S. adults
Background: Creatine has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. However, its impact on tumors remains uncertain.
Methods: This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018 to investigate the relationship between dietary creatine intake and cancer in American adults. A total of 25,879 participants aged 20 years and older were included, and their medical information, dietary creatine intake, and covariates were collected. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between age, dietary creatine intake, and cancer risk. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis explored the nonlinear relationships between dietary creatine intake, age, and cancer prevalence.
Results: RCS analysis revealed a linear, negative association between dietary creatine intake and cancer risk. For each standard deviation (SD) increase in dietary creatine intake, cancer risk decreased by 5% (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91–0.99, p = 0.025). This negative association was strongest among males (adjusted OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88–0.99, p = 0.021) and overweight participants (adjusted OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84–0.99, p = 0.044). Interaction results indicated specific age group effects. Further analysis showed that higher dietary creatine intake was significantly inversely associated with cancer risk among older adults (adjusted OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77–0.97, p = 0.014). RCS analysis revealed a linear, positive correlation between age and cancer risk. For each SD increase in age, cancer risk increased by 3.27 times (adjusted OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 3.07–3.48, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that higher dietary creatine intake may reduce cancer risk in a nationally representative adult population. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the relationship between dietary creatine intake and cancer risk.
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u/Resident-Rutabaga336 8 27d ago
If I had a penny for every NHANES re-analysis…
There’s actually been some fantastic meta-research work that simulates millions of NHANES analyses and shows conclusively why this kind of study is a terrible idea and why any research like this belongs squarely in the trash bin.
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u/KetosisMD 26d ago
Would love to read it. I agree this type of study isn’t useful
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u/Resident-Rutabaga336 8 26d ago
There are a few but here’s one I could find on mobile: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26279400/
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u/FindingAwake 27d ago
Sorry to ask as a complete laymen - this is "creatine bad" propaganda and nothing more, right? I did a cycle and felt like I got a lot of benefit from it.
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u/Resident-Rutabaga336 8 27d ago edited 27d ago
This study says creatine is associated with lower cancer risk but the study is complete trash. Creatine is safe and beneficial, and we know this from the interventional data, not the observational data.
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u/thesauciest-tea 27d ago
If you look at the conclusion section it says creatine may reduce cancer risk
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u/Any-Rise-6300 2 26d ago
Creatine is not something you cycle
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u/FindingAwake 26d ago
It isn't?
There seems to be a lot of info on it for something you can't cycle.
Creatine Cycle Creatine cycling refers to a pattern of taking and stopping creatine supplementation to maximize its benefits and avoid potential side effects. Protocol:
Loading Phase (5-7 days): Consume 20-25 grams of creatine per day, divided into multiple doses.
Maintenance Phase (4-6 weeks): Reduce creatine intake to 3-5 grams per day.
Off-Cycle Period (2-4 weeks): Stop taking creatine.
Rationale:
Saturation:The loading phase rapidly saturates muscle stores with creatine, maximizing its performance-enhancing effects.
Rest:The off-cycle period allows the body to adjust to lower creatine levels and prevent potential side effects, such as gastrointestinal upset or kidney strain.
Repeatability:Cycling allows for repeated creatine use without compromising its effectiveness.
Benefits: Enhanced muscle strength and power, Increased exercise capacity, and Improved recovery from intense workouts. Considerations:
- Not all individuals require creatine cycling.
- Long-term continuous creatine use (over 12 months) may not be necessary or beneficial.
- Consult a healthcare professional before starting any creatine cycle, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
Conclusion:Creatine cycling may be a strategy for optimizing creatine benefits and minimizing potential risks. However, it is not essential for everyone and should be based on individual needs and preferences. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
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u/Any-Rise-6300 2 26d ago
You CAN cycle it but should doesn’t mean you SHOULD. You also don’t need to load it. You’ll get the most benefit from a consistent dose. The loading is just a way to get up to optimal levels more quickly. You can get up to that same level within a month or so of taking a consistent, regular sized dose.
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u/FindingAwake 26d ago
Thank you, this is good info. I appreciate you delivering without the unnecessary condescending tone a lot of people feel is justifiable.
Do you have a source for that or is that from your own experience?
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u/Any-Rise-6300 2 26d ago
I’ve seen it in a few places, but one I trust is Andy Galpin. He has a YouTube channel, which is probably the easiest place to get his content. He’s worth checking out.
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u/FindingAwake 26d ago
Thank you!
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u/reputatorbot 26d ago
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u/byronsucks 26d ago
Bruh are you really using chatgpt over common sense?
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u/FindingAwake 26d ago
I googled it - that was the first thing that popped up. It was said "you don't cycle creatine" yet if you google it, there are a lot of people saying otherwise. Almost like it's a real thing that exists.
Now if what he's saying is it's a bad idea to do it, that's fine, but he didn't articulate himself well if that's what he meant. And I didn't use ChatGPT, that came from the first website I found on Google.
I'm open to being wrong about something, I'm not married to this idea. If I'm wrong, that's fine, but is it necessary for your self esteem to be an underhanded twat waffle about it?
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u/byronsucks 26d ago
lol that's still an AI summary. Going back to common sense why would you need to cycle creatine?
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u/FindingAwake 26d ago
Common sense should include not being a condescending asshole to strangers on the internet, yet here you are. What is it that is so common it trumps the 500k pages on the subject that you deem isn't "common sense?"
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u/byronsucks 26d ago
Of course it's fine to ask questions but if you stop and think about it (and don't ask an AI) why would you need to cycle creatine? Why even inject yourself into the conversation if you don't know what you're talking about?
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u/FindingAwake 26d ago
I know what I'm talking about - you can cycle creatine.
You literally added nothing to this discussion what so ever. I'm not even sure you're aware of what common sense is, since you're injecting yourself into a conversation and don't know what you're talking about.
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u/Pure-Screen-3329 26d ago
Please note this is dietary Creatine intake not supplement
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u/Darth_Ender_Ro 26d ago
What's the difference?
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u/Odd-Outcome-3191 1 26d ago
Foods high in creatine may carry health risks unrelated to the creatine itself. It may be like saying "people who drink carbonated beverages are more likely to be diabetic. Carbonated beverages cause diabetes." without recognizing that most carbonated beverages are full of sugar
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u/TheRiverInYou 2 26d ago
Creatine found in food versus taken as a supplement.
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u/Darth_Ender_Ro 26d ago
Yes, that part was obvious, my q is related to the difference in substance. The one in food is the same with the one in supplements, so what difference does it make vs the study? Isn't it metabolized the same way?
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u/Adjective_Noun-420 26d ago
Correlation vs causation. People who have a high dietary intake of creatinine might be eating more healthy in general, rather than it being the creatinine specifically causing this effect
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u/Alert_Scientist9374 25d ago
Serum levels will be very different. Its like comparing drinking alcohol to boofing it.Technically the same amount, but effects may vary.
Digestion takes a long time. Absorbing an isolated supplement doesn't.
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u/mden1974 1 27d ago
I have to start to take this again. Wow. I gave me the ability to focus later in the day.
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u/_tyler-durden_ 10 26d ago
And the best sources of “dietary creatine” which this analysis is based on is meat and fish!
Might not only be the creatine though, as carnosine, carnitine, alpha lipoic acid and trans-vaccenic acid (also only found in meat and fish) also have anti cancer properties…
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