Creatine And Cancer: Should You Stop?

Does creatine cause cancer? Does it spread it? Should you stop taking it? A cancer surgeon answers the six questions you've been asking — from the studies, not the headlines. 📬 The Surgeon's Brief — one email a month from Dr. Stockton, free: https://docstockton.com/signup THE SHORT ANSWERS 1. Cause cancer? No study in people has shown that it does. The largest trial (1,741 people, ~4 years) found no more reported growths on creatine than on placebo. 2. Spread cancer? In mice, yes — two separate labs, two mechanisms. In people, it has never been measured. 3. Make tumors grow? In the mouse studies we have, no. Growth and spread are different things. 4. Help fight cancer? In mice and in cells in a dish, yes. In people with cancer, seven small trials show limited benefit — and no trial shows it lowers recurrence. 5. Should you stop? If you don't have cancer, nothing in the research says you need to. If you have cancer or a history of it, that's a conversation with your oncology team. 6. When will we know? CREATINE-52 (200 people, one year, placebo-controlled) is underway. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 Should You Stop? The Short Answer 0:19 What Research In People Shows 0:40 1. Does Creatine Cause Cancer? 1:14 15 Of 100 Vs 16 Of 100 1:43 2. Does Creatine Spread Cancer? 1:59 A Second Lab: Platelets 2:16 The 11 Human Volunteers 2:38 Volunteer Platelets Injected Into Mice 2:51 The Spread Happened In Mice, Not In People 3:14 The Findings Are Real. The Conclusion Isn't. 3:36 The Trial In 263 Cancer Patients 3:58 230 Days Vs 239 Days 4:18 3. Does Creatine Make Tumors Grow? 4:29 Growth Vs Spread 4:50 A Third Lab: Slower Growth, More Spread 5:08 4. Does Creatine Help Fight Cancer? 5:32 In Cancer Patients: 7 Studies, 463 People 5:51 The "Lowers Your Risk Of Recurrence" Claim 6:08 Both Sides Overreach 6:23 5. Should You Stop? 6:43 What To Cover With Your Team 7:11 A Cancer You Don't Know About? 7:23 Get Up To Date On Cancer Screening 7:44 Due For Colon Screening? 7:59 6. When Will We Know? 8