Creatine may supercharge immune cells key to fighting cancer

A UCLA study suggests the popular supplement creatine may help strengthen one of the immune system's cancer-fighting pathways by energizing dendritic cells that activate killer T cells. The study, published in iScience, found that creatine boosts the activity of dendritic cells, specialized immune cells that detect tumors and activate the killer T cells responsible for destroying cancer. In mouse models of melanoma, creatine supplementation slowed tumor growth significantly and increased the number and activation of dendritic cells. Dendritic cells ramp up their intake of creatine inside tumors and depend on it to function effectively in this nutrient-poor environment, according to the research conducted in mouse models and human cells. The findings build on earlier work from the same lab showing creatine powers killer T cells. University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences released the study, which was reported by ScienceDaily on July 8, 2026.