Creatine and the Liver: Metabolism and Possible Interactions.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing mechanistic concepts and existing literature with no systematic review methodology or new human clinical data
PubMed 26202197 · doi:10.2174/1389557515666150722102613
What was done
This narrative review synthesized literature on creatine synthesis in the kidney and liver, its physiological role as an energy and pH buffer, and the metabolic effects of creatine administration on hepatic S-adenosylmethionine consumption, homocysteine generation, fatty liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy, and potential adverse effects or toxicity.
What was found
The abstract reports no numeric data or statistical measures. Qualitatively, it notes that creatine administration decreases hepatic consumption of S-adenosylmethionine and reduces homocysteine production, mitigating hepatic fat accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It also notes neuroprotective energy supply against hyperammonemia-induced encephalopathy in acute liver failure, alongside conflicting reports of antioxidant effects versus theoretical risks of increased oxidative stress and carcinogenic compound formation.
Why it matters
The paper outlines how creatine metabolism intersects with hepatic methylation and bioenergetics, highlighting therapeutic hypotheses for liver disease while emphasizing the scarcity of rigorous adverse event data.
Limits
As a narrative review, no systematic search or meta-analytic methods are reported. The abstract provides no quantitative data, sample sizes, study designs (human vs. animal models), dosing regimens, or duration of supplementation.
Cited by
- contradicts The human body naturally synthesizes 1 to 3 g of creatine per day only in the liver and brain, and stores 95% of total creatine in skeletal muscle.