A new review in Nutrition Research adds creatine to the list of supplements being studied for gut health, finding that the compound showed significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that could help restore balance in the intestine. The work focuses on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the evidence so far is early.

You probably know creatine as a sports supplement for strength and recovery (maybe it’s already part of your post-lift routine). The review’s interest in the gut comes from biology rather than the gym: it examines how the compound might support cells that line and move the intestine.

What the review found

The authors pulled together existing research on creatine and intestinal health. Their review published in Nutrition Research found that creatine showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and may help restore intestinal homeostasis, the gut’s return to a balanced state.

The review is a summary of earlier studies, not a new clinical trial. It does not report a new group of patients taking creatine, so it cannot show that the supplement treats or improves IBD in people.

Why researchers think creatine could matter in the gut

The proposed mechanism is energy. Intestinal smooth muscle and the epithelial cells that form the gut barrier lean on the creatine kinase and phosphocreatine system to power themselves. Creatine may help regenerate ATP, the cell’s energy currency, and support mitochondrial function, which in turn could help protect the intestinal barrier that is compromised in IBD.

That barrier is central to the condition. When it weakens, inflammation tends to follow, which is why researchers are looking at anything that might keep gut cells better supplied with energy.

What other research shows so far

The review sits alongside a small but growing body of work, most of it outside human IBD patients.

• A preprint on creatine in a mouse colitis model reports less severe colitis and reduced colon damage in mice given creatine. Preprints have not been peer reviewed, and mouse results do not always carry over to people.
• A 2025 analysis in Frontiers in Nutrition used survey data from 10,721 US adults and found that higher dietary creatine intake was associated with lower odds of chronic constipation (odds ratio 0.81), with no significant link to chronic diarrhea. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show cause and effect, and it did not look at IBD or at supplements.

What it means for people with IBD

The review presents creatine as a possible complementary approach rather than a replacement for standard care. Common IBD treatments, including immunosuppressants and biologics, can carry side effects, which is part of the reason researchers are exploring additional options.

The research is still emerging, and more studies, especially trials in people, are needed before anyone can say whether creatine helps. If you’re living with IBD or another chronic condition, your next step is a conversation with your healthcare provider before you start a supplement. Bring this review along; it’s an easy way to open the question. For general background on supporting digestion, see these everyday tips for good gut health.

FAQ

Does creatine treat IBD?

No. The current evidence is a review of earlier research plus animal and population studies. None of it shows that creatine treats IBD in people.

Is this a new clinical trial?

No. The Nutrition Research paper reviews existing studies on creatine and intestinal health.

Should people with IBD take creatine?

That’s a question for your healthcare provider, who can weigh it against your treatment and health history.