Dietary creatine is associated with lower serum neurofilament light chain levels

Abstract

Low creatine availability may be linked to an elevated risk of neuronal damage, yet this association remains inadequately explored at the population level. Utilizing 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, the current study found a negative correlation between dietary creatine intake and serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL; a biomarker for neuronal damage) in a cohort of 1912 individuals (52.2% females) aged 20–75 years. This inverse association persisted even after adjusting for other nutritional variables known to influence neuronal viability. The observed pattern, where increased dietary creatine intake was associated with reduced circulating NfL levels, suggests potential protective effects of creatine against neuronal injury.