title: Creatine supplementation as a possible new therapeutic approach for fatty liver disease: early findings.
abstract: Over the last few years, consistent data have demonstrated that creatine (Cr) supplementation prevents the accumulation of fat in rat liver as well as the progression of fatty liver disease in different situations. Studies have demonstrated that Cr is effective and prevents fatty liver in high-fat and choline-deficient diets and in hepatoma cells in vitro. Because Cr synthesis is responsible for a considerable consumption of hepatic methyl groups, studies have tested the idea that Cr supplementation could modulate phospholipid formation and VLDL secretion. Studies have also demonstrated Cr is able to modulate the expression of key genes related to fatty acid oxidation in hepatocyte cell culture and in rat liver. However, to date, the mechanism by which Cr exerts protective effects against fatty liver is poorly understood. Therefore, the present review aims to summarize the studies involving the therapeutic use of Cr supplementation on fatty liver disease and to explore the mechanisms involved in one-carbon and fatty acid metabolism for the preventive effects of Cr supplementation on fat liver accumulation. Although a small number of studies have been conducted to date, we consider Cr as a new and promising therapeutic strategy to control fat accumulation in the liver as well as the progression of fatty liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 km 380, Campus Universitário, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. rdeminice@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deminice
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Gabriela S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brosnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brosnan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003401:Creatine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D003401:Creatine
keywords: Creatine supplementation; De novo fatty acid synthesis; Fatty liver disease; NAFLD; Oxidative stress; Β-oxidation