The Creatine Paradox

An Investigation into the ‘Universal Super-Brain’ Narrative

Creatine is often promoted as a brain booster for everyone. This investigation goes back to the original trials and finds a narrower claim, shaped by vegetarian subjects and the brain’s limited ability to take up creatine.

Close-up of a scientific research paper with the phrase "in vegetarians" circled in red ink, highlighting the specific demographic used in cognitive studies.

The Vegetarian Gap – The Creatine Intelligence Illusion

The "universal brain boost" claimed by creatine marketing vanishes in clinical trials of healthy omnivores. An investigation into the gap between the vegetarian "deficit" and the omnivore "ceiling."

A forensic still life of an investigator's desk featuring a clinical trial protocol with the text 'Exclusion Criteria: History of Mania, Bipolar I Disorder' circled in red, placed next to a commercial tub of creatine supplement labeled 'Mood & Focus Support'.

Creatine and Bipolar Disorder – The Manic Switch Risk

Clinical trials consistently exclude bipolar patients to sanitise safety data. This investigation tracks the suppressed signal of "manic switching" from the 2007 Roitman incident to the 2018 Toniolo confirmation, revealing a significant hazard for consumers.

A high-angle shot of a dimly lit desk scattered with academic papers. A hand holding a pen has circled a footnote in a document that reads 'Conflict of Interest: Author declares financial ties to AlzChem Trostberg GmbH,' illustrating the centralised funding of creatine research.

The AlzChem Loop – Inside the Creatine Consensus Factory

Influencers call it a universal brain booster. European regulators rejected the claim. We audited the funding trail to discover why the science on social media doesn’t match the official safety records.