Creatine combats the effects of sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation reduces physical and mental performance in everyone from soldiers fighting on the front lines of the Iraq war to students cramming all night for their final exams. The brain, like all other cells in the body, is dependent on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP) as a source of energy. However, creatine phosphate levels are reduced during periods of sleep deprivation or sleep deprivation. Several studies have found that supplements containing creatine monohydrate can improve mental performance and increase IQ. British researchers have also found that creatine supplements can help to cope better with the after-effects of sleep deprivation. People who were sleep deprived for 24 hours and given 5 grams of creatine performed better in tests of reaction time, balance and mood than members of the control group who had not taken creatine. Creatine supplements may help improve cognitive performance during periods of severe stress, (Psychopharmacology, 185:93-103, 2006)