Godlewska, Beata R, Sylvester, Amy L, Emir, Uzay E et al. · Nutrients · 2024 · DOI
Researchers gave 11 people with ME/CFS a creatine supplement (a natural substance that helps cells produce energy) for 6 weeks. Brain scans showed the supplement increased creatine levels in key brain regions, and participants reported feeling less fatigued, had faster reaction times on thinking tests, and showed stronger hand grip strength. The supplement was well tolerated with no side effects reported.
ME/CFS lacks specific approved treatments, making investigation of bioenergetic interventions particularly important. This study provides mechanistic evidence that creatine reaches the brain and correlates with measurable improvements in fatigue and cognition—two core ME/CFS symptoms—supporting the rationale for larger controlled trials.
This study does not prove creatine is an effective ME/CFS treatment because it lacked a placebo control group; improvements could partially reflect placebo effect or natural variation. The small sample size and short duration limit conclusions about long-term efficacy and population generalizability. Correlation between brain creatine and reaction time does not establish causation.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Godlewska, Beata R, Sylvester, Amy L, Emir, Uzay E, Sharpley, Ann L, Clarke, William T, Martens, Marieke A G, et al. (2024). Six-Week Supplementation with Creatine in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Feasibility Study at 3 Tesla.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193308
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-godlewska-2024-six-week,
author = {Godlewska, Beata R and Sylvester, Amy L and Emir, Uzay E and Sharpley, Ann L and Clarke, William T and Martens, Marieke A G and Cowen, Philip J},
title = {Six-Week Supplementation with Creatine in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Feasibility Study at 3 Tesla.},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.3390/nu16193308},
note = {PubMed: 39408275},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/godlewska-2024-six-week},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/godlewska-2024-six-week
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