A study from the Karolinska Institutet, published in Science Translational Medicine , shows that people with type 2 diabetes have lower levels of the protein that breaks down and converts creatine in the muscles. This leads to impaired function of the mitochondria, the 'powerhouses' of the cell. Creatine is a natural compound in the body that is also found in foods such as meat and fish.
It is also a popular supplement for improving exercise performance as it can make muscles work harder and longer before they become fatigued. Despite creatine's recognized positive effects, previous studies have suggested a possible link between high blood creatine levels and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This has raised questions about whether creatine supplementation may contribute to that risk.
New research based on studies in both humans and mice shows that people with type 2 diabetes have lower protein levels in their muscles that metabolizes and converts creatine—a protein called creatine kinase. "This reduced protein level leads to impaired creatine metabolism in the muscle. This may explain why people with type 2 diabetes accumulate creatine in their blood," says Anna Krook, Professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet and the study's principal investigator.
Scientists don't know exactly what high creatine levels in the blood mean for the body, but it is known that it does have an effect outside the cells. "The findings indicate that im.
