DoNotAge.org community members will know that creatine is more than a bodybuilding supplement. Its benefits include improved energy, recovery, and brain health. A study published this week suggests another valuable function.

Immunotherapy is a newer form of cancer treatment that works by stimulating the immune system so it can better recognise and destroy cancer cells. It's more targeted than treatments like chemotherapy, and its side effects aren't the same. However, its success rate depends on your genetics and the type of cancer you have.

Researchers from UCLA suspected that creatine could improve the success rate of immunotherapy.

The study

The researchers wanted to use creatine to energise dendritic cells, specialised immune cells that detect tumours and direct the T cells that ultimately destroy them.

They engineered some dendritic cells that lacked the ability to process creatine. This made them less active, and less able to prepare T cells to recognise and attack tumours.

They then gave creatine to mice with tumours and observed their dendritic cells. Not only did the cells' energy levels increase, they also boosted the performance and quantity of the T cells, leading to slower tumour growth.

Finally, they tested creatine on human immune cells, with similarly promising results.

What this means for us

Human trials are still needed. But this study gives a promising direction for exploring new forms of cancer treatment and vaccination. With most cancer cases occurring in people aged 60 and older, this could be a significant win for the future of healthy ageing.

Study reference: cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)00811-4