Role of creatine supplementation in intestinal health: a narrative review of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, idiopathic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, classified as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The most common pharmacological therapies include aminosalicylates, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, and targeted biological therapies. However, due to their many potential adverse effects, natural compounds such as creatine have also gained attention. Creatine is a compound formed from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine, and can be synthesized endogenously or obtained through food or supplements. Because of its ability to improve cellular energy status, and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the aim of this study was to assess its therapeutic potential in IBD and other associated clinical disorders. A literature review was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases. Based on the data found, creatine supplementation demonstrated therapeutic potential in restoring intestinal homeostasis, as well as significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, this compound should to be considered a promising therapeutic agent in IBD, and further studies are needed.