CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION IN CANCER PATIENTS: A BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW

Abstract

Creatine supplementation has generated growing interest in cancer, although its effects remain controversial. This study aimed to review the scientific literature on creatine in cancer patients, considering its impact on muscle mass preservation, physical function, and tumor progression. This is a narrative review conducted between April and October 2025 in the SciELO, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (BVS), and LILACS databases. Articles published in the last twenty years, in Portuguese and English, available in full, and selected based on title and abstract readings, using the descriptors "creatine," "phosphocreatine," "neoplasms," and "oncology," were included. The studies analyzed presented divergent results: some indicated benefits in muscle function and a potential tumor suppressor effect, while others suggested an association between creatine and the progression and metastasis of neoplasms. Most of the evidence derives from experiments with animal models, with clinical trials in humans being scarce. It is concluded that well-designed clinical studies are needed to clarify the safety and efficacy of creatine in cancer treatment, as well as investigations that explore its association with physical activity to evaluate potential functional gains.