Creatine Supplementation May Help Long COVID

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (Tokyo) investigated whether creatine supplementation could help relieve symptoms of long COVID.

Creatine is a natural compound that supports cellular energy production and has shown benefits in other post-viral fatigue conditions. In this double-blind, randomized trial, 15 adults with moderate fatigue and at least one other long COVID symptom received either creatine alone, creatine combined with glucose, or a placebo for eight weeks.

All participants completed the study, and no significant side effects were reported, indicating that both creatine-based interventions were well tolerated. Brain imaging showed that participants taking creatine—with or without glucose—had increased creatine levels in specific brain regions compared to those receiving placebo. This finding is notable because long COVID is thought to involve reduced tissue creatine, which may contribute to the persistent fatigue and cognitive symptoms characteristic of long COVID.

While creatine with glucose did not significantly outperform creatine alone in boosting overall brain creatine, both treatments improved measures of energy metabolism and were associated with symptom relief. Participants in the creatine-plus-glucose group reported notable reductions in body aches, headaches, concentration difficulties, and general malaise.

These early results suggest that medium-term creatine supplementation may safely restore brain energy balance and ease symptoms in people with long COVID.