Creatine is one of the most extensively studied dietary supplements, with a research history spanning several decades. Traditionally associated with sports nutrition and high-intensity athletic performance, creatine is increasingly marketed to the general population for a wide range of purported benefits, from cognitive enhancement and brain health to female health and healthy ageing. This expansion of claims has led to renewed interest among healthcare professionals, but also to considerable hype. Some online wellness trend predictions for 2026 have listed creatine as a supplement to watch.

As creatine products become more widely available in powders, capsules, liquids and chewable forms, it is timely to examine what creatine actually is, where the evidence is strongest and where claims currently outpace the science.