Clarke Holly, Hickner Robert C, Ormsbee Michael J
Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
Department of Biokenetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, School of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville 4041, South Africa.
Nutrients. 2021 Mar 5;13(3):857. doi: 10.3390/nu13030857.
Creatine is an organic compound, consumed exogenously in the diet and synthesized endogenously via an intricate inter-organ process. Functioning in conjunction with creatine kinase, creatine has long been known for its pivotal role in cellular energy provision and energy shuttling. In addition to the abundance of evidence supporting the ergogenic benefits of creatine supplementation, recent evidence suggests a far broader application for creatine within various myopathies, neurodegenerative diseases, and other pathologies. Furthermore, creatine has been found to exhibit non-energy related properties, contributing as a possible direct and in-direct antioxidant and eliciting anti-inflammatory effects. In spite of the new clinical success of supplemental creatine, there is little scientific insight into the potential effects of creatine on cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of mortality. Taking into consideration the non-energy related actions of creatine, highlighted in this review, it can be speculated that creatine supplementation may serve as an adjuvant therapy for the management of vascular health in at-risk populations. This review, therefore, not only aims to summarize the current literature surrounding creatine and vascular health, but to also shed light onto the potential mechanisms in which creatine may be able to serve as a beneficial supplement capable of imparting vascular-protective properties and promoting vascular health.
肌酸是一种有机化合物，可通过饮食外源摄入，并通过复杂的器官间过程在内源合成。长期以来，肌酸与肌酸激酶协同作用，在细胞能量供应和能量穿梭中发挥关键作用，这一点已为人所知。除了大量证据支持补充肌酸的促力益处外，最近的证据表明肌酸在各种肌病、神经退行性疾病和其他病症中有更广泛的应用。此外，已发现肌酸具有非能量相关特性，可作为一种可能的直接和间接抗氧化剂，并具有抗炎作用。尽管补充肌酸在临床上取得了新的成功，但对于肌酸对主要死亡原因心血管疾病（CVD）的潜在影响，科学认识却很少。考虑到本综述中强调的肌酸的非能量相关作用，可以推测补充肌酸可能作为一种辅助疗法，用于管理高危人群的血管健康。因此，本综述不仅旨在总结当前关于肌酸与血管健康的文献，还旨在阐明肌酸可能作为一种有益补充剂，具有赋予血管保护特性和促进血管健康的潜在机制。
