Guanidinoacetic acid versus creatine for improved brain and muscle creatine levels: a superiority pilot trial in healthy men
Abstract
In this randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, we evaluated whether 4-week supplementation with guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is superior to creatine in facilitating creatine levels in healthy men (n = 5). GAA (3.0 g/day) resulted in a more powerful rise (up to 16.2%) in tissue creatine levels in vastus medialis muscle, middle-cerebellar peduncle, and paracentral grey matter, as compared with creatine (P < 0.05). These results indicate that GAA as a preferred alternative to creatine for improved bioenergetics in energy-demanding tissues.
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Creatine uptake by the brain is slow and limited.
“Since creatine uptake by the brain is slow and limited, current research is investigating whether dietary supplementation of creatine precursors like GAA may promote greater increases in brain creatine [226, 227].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine (2017) · cites this paper as [227]
One recent study suggested that GAA supplementation (3 g/day) increased brain creatine content to a greater degree than creatine monohydrate.
“One recent study suggested that GAA supplementation (3 g/day) increased brain creatine content to a greater degree than creatine monohydrate [227].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine (2017) · cites this paper as [227]
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- Authors
- Ostojic, S. M., Ostojic, J., Drid, P., & Vranes, M.
- Affiliations
- Applied Bioenergetics Lab, Biomedical Sciences Department, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Lovcenska 16, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia.
- Klinički centar Vojvodine (RS)
- University of Novi Sad (RS)
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
- Venue
- Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1005-1007
- ISSN
- 1715-5312 (ISSN-L)
- 1715-5320
- OpenAlex
- W2422502681
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 3.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biochemical effects in animals
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Keywords
- guanidinoacetic acid, creatine supplementation, muscle creatine, vastus medialis, middle cerebellar peduncle, bioenergetics, energy metabolism
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Creatine, Double-Blind Method, Follow-Up Studies, Frontal Lobe, Glycine, Homocysteine, Humans, Male, Neurons, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Pilot Projects, Biomarkers, Up-Regulation, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements, Hyperhomocysteinemia, Quadriceps Muscle, Serbia, Young Adult, Performance-Enhancing Substances, Middle Cerebellar Peduncle
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