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Following the success of the Creatine Conference 2022 (International Conference on Creatine in Health and Disease throughout the Lifetime), held in Alpharetta, USA, the Creatine Conference 2025 took place in Munich, Germany, in a hybrid format (online and in-person) from March 12–15, 2025. Organized by the Creatine for Health Scientific Advisory Board (Alzchem Group AG – Creapure® and Creavitalis®), the Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory (Texas A&M University), and the DBSS Research Division, the event brought together over 400 attendees from 35 countries, reinforcing its status as the premier global event for creatine research.
The conference featured 29 distinguished speakers from 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and USA), with a combined h-index of 1371, underscoring the high-impact nature of the discussions. Keynote talks spanned aging, women’s health, disease, metabolism, cognitive function, and exercise/sport applications, showcasing the growing therapeutic potential of creatine monohydrate. After the opening keynote, “Creatine for Life: The Creatine Kinase System,” a major highlight was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by board members of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) and conference organizers to Prof. Theo Wallimann, PhD (Emeritus, ETH Zurich, Switzerland) for his groundbreaking contributions to the characterization and deep understanding of the creatine kinase system, along with a heartfelt tribute to the late Prof. Roger Harris, PhD, FISSN, whose foundational research on creatine supplementation remains pivotal.
The Creatine Conference 2025 received 27 abstract submissions, of which 24 were accepted for publication in this special issue on “Creatine for Health and Performance.” Studies covered diverse populations ranging from pregnant women to older adults, further proving creatine’s broad benefits across health and disease. Key findings reinforced its role in exercise science, including muscle recovery in athletes, strength gains, and menstrual cycle-specific responses. Exciting new evidence also highlighted neuroprotective effects in traumatic brain injury and infant development, while women’s health research revealed advantages for postmenopausal metabolism, pregnancy safety, and cognitive support during menopause. Work in aging populations showed promise for preserving physical function, and novel studies explored creatine’s impact on sperm health and gut microbiome interactions. Safety analyses across hundreds of studies reaffirm creatine’s well-established profile, with innovations like creatine-fortified foods opening new possibilities. Together, these studies underscore creatine’s expanding therapeutic uses while reinforcing its decades-long safety record.
Despite these advances, challenges remain in combating misinformation and promoting scientific literacy. Continued efforts are essential to educate the public, counteract oversimplified claims (“scienciness”), and prevent the bandwagon effect in supplementation trends. This underscores the importance of translating cutting-edge research into practical knowledge for both health professionals and the public. Platforms like the Creatine for Health initiative (https://creatineforhealth.com/) play a pivotal role in bridging this gap by disseminating evidence-based insights through social media. By integrating robust, curated tools and open-access platforms such as the Creatine Research and Information System (CREAS; https://creas.pro/), and the Creatine Global initiative (https://www.creatine.global/), the scientific community and practitioners can ensure creatine’s benefits are realized safely and effectively across diverse populations.
We extend our gratitude to speakers, attendees, and sponsors, particularly Alzchem Group AG, Creapure®, and Creavitalis®, for their support. The Creatine Conference’s success sets the stage for the next edition in Canada, where continued innovation in creatine science will be showcased.
Disclosure statement
R.B.K. serves as Chair of the “Creatine for Health” scientific advisory board sponsored by Creapure® and Creavitalis®–Alzchem Group AG, while D.A.B. and J.R.S. serve as members of this board. The Creatine Conference 2025 was hosted by the Alzchem Group AG, the Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory at Texas A&M, and the DBSS Research Division.