Creatine Conf. Munich ‘25
Darren Candow, PhD at the Creatine Conference in Munich March 2025
From Niche to Necessity
What happens when the world’s top scientists gather for four days to talk about one molecule? In Munich last month, that’s exactly what the Creatine Conference was. The event didn’t position creatine as a niche sports supplement, but rather as the pinnacle of a new health paradigm.
Dr. Darren Candow has been researching creatine for decades. I had the pleasure of chatting with him about the event last week. When we spoke, he was still buzzing from the conference. “We spent four days talking primarily about creatine,” he said. “A few other compounds came up, but the focus was clear, and that’s what made it so unique.”
Once relegated to the back shelves of gym nutrition stores, creatine is now central to conversations surrounding aging, cognition, reproductive health, and chronic disease. The shift is striking. What began as a performance enhancer for young athletes is now being studied in areas as wide-ranging as pregnancy, anti-cancer pathways, and even adolescent brain development. “Some of the most fascinating research was in pregnancy,” Candow explained. “And potentially even anti-cancer effects. We talked about healthy aging, female-specific benefits, and creatine’s role in children. It’s not just for young males anymore. The applications are global.”
That global relevance felt palpable in Munich. Speakers presented data on creatine’s ability to reduce fat mass in individuals with obesity, support cognitive performance under fatigue, and even act as an adjunct treatment for clinical depression and anxiety. “Creatine has become one of the most well-studied compounds out there,” Candow said. “I think it’ll still be a hot topic for the next 20 to 30 years.”
A Health Evolution, and a Delivery Revolution
Perhaps the most promising new chapter lies in the realm of maternal health. Dr. Stacey Ellery, based in Australia, presented new research on creatine supplementation during pregnancy. Her work, which has long been validated in animal models, is now entering human trials. “It’s potentially a game-changer for reproductive health,” Candow said. “Not just in terms of fetal development but for the mother too.” That shift in thinking reflects a broader trend: a move away from hyper-targeted supplementation and toward more foundational support for health and energy metabolism, which affect every system in the body.
And then there’s the brain. As Candow put it, “The neck up is probably the focal point right now.” After the emotional toll of COVID, there’s a deepening cultural interest in mental wellbeing. Creatine appears to have arrived at exactly the right time. Emerging studies are showing that it can support memory, attention, and mood, especially under stress or sleep deprivation. These are conditions that, as Candow joked, almost everyone can relate to these days.
Of course, none of these benefits matter if people don’t actually take it. Consistency remains a challenge. “Some people don’t like the grittiness of the powder,” Candow said. “Mixing powder isn’t always convenient, especially if you’re in a car or on the go. Gummies are emerging, and for kids especially, it’s a more approachable format.” The question of access is essential as well. Creatine naturally occurs in animal-based foods, so for vegetarians and vegans, supplementation becomes less of a performance enhancer and more of a baseline necessity. “If you’re plant-based,” he added, “you’re starting at a deficit.”
That’s where the supplement industry is beginning to take a fresh look, not only at delivery methods but also at how to integrate creatine into modern life in a way that makes sense. The hope is for industry, science, and healthcare to collaborate more effectively in order to remove friction points. “They do need to come together,” Candow emphasized. “That collaboration is going to be key.”
The Movement and the Moment
As for the event itself, hosted by Alzchem in Munich, it wasn’t only about data and discussion. It was also about energy: a shared recognition that this was a unique moment in time. “They were unbelievably amazing,” Candow said. “The venue was intimate, the hospitality was incredible, and they made it feel like a real community. It wasn’t sterile. It was human.” That sense of connection was reflected in the ambition as well. Candow floated an idea for a future evolution of the event, suggesting something like “Creatine Plus,” where creatine remains the foundation but other bioactive compounds, such as omega-3s and proteins, are included. “If I had to rate it out of 10,” he said, “I’d give it 20.”
So what should we be watching over the next five to ten years? Candow identified five core areas of focus: pregnancy, female health across the lifespan, healthy aging, anti-cancer effects, and brain health. “These are the pillars,” he said. “Almost everything else will fall under one of them. I could give you ten, but those five are the most important.”
The challenge now is translating this momentum to the mainstream. The science is robust, but awareness still lags. For those wanting to explore more, Candow recommends the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), which serves as a hub of credible, peer-reviewed research. Much of it is open access. “We’ll be publishing a whole series of articles this year summarizing the evidence presented at the conference,” he said. “You don’t have to pay. Anyone can go read them.”
“The science is always changing,” Candow added. “So it’s up to us to help people see the context.”
If Munich taught us anything, it’s that creatine is no longer a single-purpose supplement. It is a molecule with the potential to reshape how we think about everything from cognition to longevity.
You can read more about Darren right here and here.
Seize the years,
Rachael Jennings | Co-Founder + CBO, Yeu
