Creatine and male fertility: the role of creatine in spermatogenesis and sperm quality

Creatine is known as a nutritional supplement for athletes, but research shows that it also plays an important role in male reproductionIts presence in the testicles and sperm affects spermatogenesis, sperm quality, and fertilization success.

Creatine and sperm biomarkers
A randomized controlled pilot study showed that 8 weeks of creatine supplementation, with or without ubiquinol, improved sperm quality biomarkers in normospermic and oligospermic men. In addition, an association was found between dietary creatine intake and serum biomarkers of spermatogenesis in men aged 12 years and older.

Intratesticular creatine and spermatogenesis
Research has shown that intratesticular creatine regulates the blood-testis barrier and thus influences spermatogenesis. Further studies have confirmed that creatine maintains spermatogenesis by defining tight junctions in the testes.

Creatine as part of a pre-conception diet
Creatine has been suggested as a promising component father's pre-conception diet, as it can improve sperm quality and increase the chances of successful fertilization. This is consistent with research on the impact of food and nutraceuticals on human fertility.

Creatine as an indicator of sperm quality
Studies have shown that creatine kinase activity in semen can serve as an indicator of sperm quality. Creatine prolongs the duration of sperm capacitation, which is key to improving processes in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Creatine kinase and male infertility
Studies have shown that creatine kinase activity is associated with normospermic and oligospermic men and may be associated with the clinical diagnosis of infertility. However, other studies have cautioned that creatine kinase activity in sperm and seminal plasma has no predictive value for IVF success. Immunocytochemical studies have shown that sperm with a mature creatine kinase staining pattern show selective binding to hemisone complexes.

Conclusion
Creatine plays an important role in male fertility, as it affects spermatogenesis, sperm quality, and fertilization success. Although some studies point to the limitations of the predictive value of creatine kinase, most research confirms that creatine is a key factor in male reproductive health.

References

1. Nedeljkovic, D. et al. Effects of 8-week creatine supplementation on sperm quality biomarkers. Nutrition and Health 2025.

2. Nedeljkovic, D. et al. Association between dietary creatine intake and serum biomarkers of spermatogenesis. Reproduction && Fertility 2025.

3. Kuribayashi, S. et al. Role of intratesticular creatine in regulating blood-testis barrier. J Urology 2025.

4. Kuribayashi, S. et al. Intratesticular creatine maintains spermatogenesis. Sci Rep 2024.

5. Ostojic, S.Met al. Creatine as a promising component of paternal preconception diet. Nutrients 2022.

6. Farina, M. et al. Impact of food and nutraceuticals on human fertility. Food Nutrition 2025.

7. Nasrallah, F. et al. Semen creatine and creatine kinase activity as an indicator of sperm quality. Clin Lab 2020.

8. Umehara, T. et al. Creatine enhances sperm capacitation duration. Hum Reprod 2018.

9. Gergely, A. et al. Sperm creatine kinase activity in Hungarian men. J Assist Reprod Genet 1999.

10. Sidhu, R.Set al. Creatine kinase levels and infertility diagnosis. J Assist Reprod Genet 1998.

11. Rolf, C. et al. Creatine kinase activity lacks predictive value for IVF. Fertil Steril 1998.

12. Huszar, G. et al. Creatine kinase immunocytochemistry of sperm-hemizona complexes. Fertil Steril 1994.