Creatine beyond muscle metabolism

Creatine plays a vital role in the normal metabolism of the central nervous system, heart, bones, and muscle tissues. It is one of the most extensively used dietary supplements worldwide. Creatine plays a critical role in energy metabolism, functioning as a source of high-energy phosphate groups that facilitate the fast recycling of ADP into ATP within cells, particularly during stressed states. The biosynthesis of creatine requires the essential substrates arginine and S-adenosylmethionine, which can influence the regulation of metabolism in the human body. Creatine acts as a negative regulator of its own synthesis and transport. The daily creatine dose can reach 0.4 g/kg of body weight. Although the absorption rate of high doses of creatine is 20-40%, they help enhance physical performance and athletic results. Despite the long history of creatine research and widespread use of creatine in sports, the precise molecular mechanisms governing its metabolism, excretion, and the functioning of the phosphocreatine energy buffer remain to be studied in detail. This review analyses the recent research on the impact of creatine supplements on health and athletic performance and the molecular mechanisms of its regulation within the human body.