Creatine may shield student Athletes' brains after hard workouts
NCT ID NCT07534293
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether taking creatine monohydrate for a week could help preserve thinking skills after high-intensity interval training. Twenty male student athletes were split into groups receiving different doses of creatine or a placebo, then did a bodyweight HIIT workout. Researchers measured reaction time and mental flexibility before and after the exercise to see if creatine made a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Creatine monohydrate
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could suggest a simple supplement to help students maintain focus after hard workouts.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The effect on real academic performance is not directly measured.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2026
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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19 to 25 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male sport science students aged 19 to 25 years * Physically active and accustomed to high-intensity exercise * Healthy volunteers * Willing to participate and provide written informed consent * Willing to complete the 7-day intervention and cognitive testing procedures Exclusion Criteria: * History of cardiovascular disease * History of kidney disease * Current use of creatine supplements * Current use of pre-workout supplements, steroids, or diuretics * Any musculoskeletal, neurological, or medical condition that could interfere with exercise participation or cognitive testing * Refusal or inability to complete the study procedures
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Laboratory Sports Science Universitas Negeri Malang
Malang, East Java, 65145, Indonesia
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