By Ruth Clegg

Copyright bbc

So does that mean that creatine can help my brain fog?

“That’s an interesting thought,” says Professor Emeritus Trevor McMorris. “It might do.”

Having been in the field for more than 40 years, he has carried out many studies into creatine supplementation.

He says perimenopausal brain fog could have a similar impact to sleep deprivation, something he has researched extensively, finding that high doses of creatine could mitigate the effects of too little sleep.

When people use the supplement, the brain may – like other muscles in the body – increase its stores of creatine. This helps produce more energy, which could help improve memory and the ability to process information.

But Prof McMorris say it won’t work for everyone. His most recent research suggests people need to be under a level of stress – for example, being sleep deprived or not having enough creatine in their diet – for it to make a difference.

So, in short, when it comes to helping me with my brain fog – maybe – there’s potential. The experts I have spoken to believe it’s an “an exciting time” in this line of research, but that more studies are needed.

Dietician Lucy Upton warns that we could start to see more side effects to creatine use because of the supplement’s surge in popularity.

“While there is extensive research, that has been in a controlled environment,” she says. “Now we need to think about the variation of body sizes, doses and any pre-existing conditions.”

Currently, known side effects are the risk of stomach upset, muscle cramps and bloating. People with conditions affecting their kidneys should consult a doctor before taking it.

While Dr Chung sees no harm in healthy adults “trying it out”, he also says results tend to be “minimal gains”, adding that “it is not, by any means, a wonder drug”.

As for me, I started taking the creatine in my cupboard but stopped after a month (blame it on the brain fog).

Perhaps I’ll give it another try.