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Creatine and cognitive performance during sleep loss: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: Benefit.

C LimitedShort-term only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: Small RCTs with task-specific results and no meta-analysis

Four small placebo-controlled trials from two research groups (n = 15 to 29) found that creatine reduced the decline in some cognitive or psychomotor tasks during 21-36 hours without sleep, using either a single large dose (0.2-0.35 g/kg) or 5 g four times a day for 7 days. Results were task-specific: one trial found a benefit only on a central executive task at 36 hours. A 2024 systematic review called the cognition evidence equivocal. There is no meta-analysis of these trials and none is a preregistered trial positive on a primary outcome, so the grade is C.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)200520102015202020252030RCTCrossover RCTControlled trialGordji-Nejad 2026, 2026: crossover RCT, n = 29, result not recordedMcMorris 2006, 2006: controlled trial, n = 19, result not recordedGordji-Nejad 2024, 2024: crossover RCT, n = 15, result not recordedMcMorris 2007, 2007: RCT, n not recorded, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
McMorris 20062006controlled trial19result not recorded
McMorris 20072007RCTnot recordedresult not recorded
Gordji-Nejad 20242024crossover RCT15result not recorded
Gordji-Nejad 20262026crossover RCT29result not recorded

Creatine supplementation, sleep deprivation, cortisol, melatonin and behavior.

McMorris T, Harris RC, Howard AN. Creatine supplementation, sleep deprivation, cortisol, melatonin and behavior Physiol Behav, 2007. PMID 17046034

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized placebo-controlled trial
Population
Healthy adults during 36 hours of sleep deprivation with moderate exercise
Funding
not stated

Effect of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation, with mild exercise, on cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood state, and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol.

McMorris T, Harris RC, Swain J. Effect of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation, with mild exercise, on cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood state, and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2006. PMID 16416332

Result not recorded
Design
Double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Sample
n = 19
Population
Healthy adults during 24 hours of sleep deprivation with mild exercise
Funding
not stated

Single-Dose Creatine Reduces Sleep Deprivation-Induced Deterioration in Cognitive Performance.

Gordji-Nejad A, Matusch A, Hengstler L. Single-Dose Creatine Reduces Sleep Deprivation-Induced Deterioration in Cognitive Performance Nutrients, 2026. PMID 42075005

Result not recorded
Design
Double-blind, randomized crossover trial
Sample
n = 29
Population
Healthy adults during 21 hours of sleep deprivation
Funding
Forschungszentrum Jülich (full-text funding statement)

Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation.

Gordji-Nejad A, Matusch A, Kleedörfer S. Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation Sci Rep, 2024. PMID 38418482

Result not recorded
Design
Double-blind, randomized, balanced crossover trial
Sample
n = 15
Population
Healthy young adults during 21 hours of sleep deprivation
Funding
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (Crossref funder list)

Search and history

Search (): creatine[ti] AND (sleep deprivation[tiab] OR sleep deprived[tiab] OR sleep loss[tiab]) AND humans[mh]

  • Graded B (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • B to C (proposed): Updated in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page