Wellness girl chat with Dr. Stacey Ellery, a pregnancy physiologist from the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. 🤰 She shares her pioneering research on the impact of creatine during pregnancy and postpartum for both mothers and babies. 🍼 Learn how creatine supports energy production and the reproductive cycle, and explore its benefits for fetal development, labor, and postpartum recovery. This episode is a must-listen for women interested in the intersections of nutrition and reproductive health. 💪✨

Links::

https://www.hudson.org.au/researcher-profile/stacey-ellery/ 

https://creatineforhealth.com/

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00:00–01:58 Meet Dr. Stacey Ellery (includes intro)

01:59–06:18 Understanding Creatine's Role in the Body

06:19–08:16 Creatine and Female Reproductive Health

08:17–12:19 Creatine's Impact on Pregnancy and Postpartum

12:20–13:24 Creatine Supplementation: Benefits and Safety (Part 1)

13:25–14:15 Thorne Supplementation

14:16–24:23 Creatine Supplementation: Benefits and Safety (Part 2)

24:24–24:59 Understanding Creatine Safety During Pregnancy

25:00–27:05 Creatine's Potential Benefits for Women

27:06–29:34 Challenges in Pregnancy Research

29:35–32:22 Creatine Supplementation During Labor and Delivery

32:23–34:22 Creatine Levels and Pregnancy Trimesters

34:23–38:59 Creatine's Role in Early Pregnancy and Infertility

39:00–39:34 Stakt mat

39:35–43:06 Creatine in Postpartum and Infant Development

43:07–47:15 Personal Experiences with Creatine During Pregnancy

47:16–50:42 Final Thoughts and Resources

Mentioned in this episode:

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our guest today is someone whose research made my jaw drop in the best way.

2

She's a pregnancy physiologist,

best known for her research on

3

creatines effects during the pregnancy

and postpartum phases of life.

4

On both Mama and Baby.

5

She is the research group head for

the Bioenergetics and Reproduction

6

Lab at the Hudson Institute of Medical

Research in Melbourne, Australia with

7

a PhD in obstetrics and gynecology and

her bachelor's in biomedical science.

8

Dr.

9

Stacey Ellery.

10

Welcome to Wellness Big Sis the Pod.

11

Stacey Ellery: How are you

So lovely to be with you.

12

Kelsy: I wanna throw it back

to the episode where I first

13

found out about your research.

14

Search with Dr.

15

Katie Hirsch and , we talked about

creatine and its effects on a woman's

16

body, and she casually mentioned that

there was this researcher out of Australia

17

who was researching creatine's effects

during the perinatal phase of life.

18

And I audibly gasped.

19

I just couldn't believe that there was

someone out there researching on this like

20

super important phase in a woman's life

and how something like creatine can help.

21

So I'm just . So, so grateful for

the research you're doing, and I'm so

22

grateful you agreed to come on because

I was so excited for this interview and

23

to learn from you and just have everyone

else get to learn from you as well.

24

So thank you so, so much.

25

Stacey Ellery: it's my absolute pleasure.

26

I absolutely appreciate the

opportunity to come and discuss

27

our research in some ways.

28

Still in its infancy when it

comes to looking at the benefits

29

of creatine for women's health.

30

But there are so many little Easter eggs

out there, which are pointing us towards

31

really interrogating this 'cause it

could really be super, super important

32

for women across the reproductive cycle.

33

So I'm absolutely thrilled to be here

to discuss what we do know we don't

34

know and what directions we're taking

35

to, to fill those knowledge gaps.

36

Kelsy: Let's start high level.

37

We've covered creatine before in

this podcast, but I don't think we've

38

even covered it from just like a

very basic grade level perspective.

39

So what even is creatine and

what role does it play within

40

our bodies, especially as women?

41

Stacey Ellery: creating the take

home message is that it's involved in

42

energy production within our cells.

43

So it's an amino acid derivative.

44

We find it in meat-based animal

products, but our body also

45

synthesizes it and it's kind.

46

A little magnet for

something called phosphates.

47

So phosphates are the energy

currency within ourselves.

48

Everyone may have heard of

adenosine tri phosphate, or a TP.

49

That's the go-to energy

50

molecule.

51

for all of our cells.

52

We need a TP to keep cells functioning and

53

creatine plays a

54

critical.

55

role in

56

storing the

57

phosphates in our cells Are

needed to make that a TP.

58

And so when creatine enters into

our cells, either being transported

59

in from our blood system or some

60

cells make

61

it, it,

62

holds onto a little

63

phosphate and it

64

just holds it tight

65

and

66

Lets the cell continue to make

67

Energy

68

Through its immediate pathway, which is

69

that oxygen and

70

glucose metabolizing oxidative

pathway that we all know about.

71

But

72

then when there are

73

shifts in

74

energy demand that creatine can

release that phosphate and it can

75

be used to make a TP really quickly.

76

And that's its important role

within the cell and that's why

77

we start to hear some really,

78

maybe

79

even conflicting

information about creatine.

80

We know it's important for skeletal

muscle and exercise performance, and now

81

there's a lot of chatter about the brain

82

and then I'm gonna sit

here today and tell you

83

that it's really important for the

uterus and the ovary and the placenta

84

and the baby and the skeptics out

there might be thinking like, hang on

85

a second, this can't be some sort of

86

wonder nutritional treatment that is

going to tackle all of these things

87

and I.

88

appreciate that skepticism, but if,

89

we remember

90

that it's about

91

energy energy is

92

critical across

93

all of our cells, that is why

94

creatine

95

can potentially

96

have a role and a

97

benefit

98

For multiple different issues.

99

It's all about

100

quick energy

101

turnover.

102

And the other thing about creatine

103

in

104

the context of

105

energy

106

which is really

107

important to understand

108

is it's the only pathway

that is easily manipulated.

109

So if we have more

110

creatine, and we

111

can get more creatine,

112

into the

113

cell,

114

We can store

115

more of those phosphates

116

but we can't necessarily

117

store

118

more a TP or store, more

other energy molecules

119

within the

120

cell.

121

So that's why it's really important

too, because we can make it go

122

up and make it go down

123

through some pretty simple mechanisms.

124

Kelsy: That is wonderful.

125

I love that explanation.

126

I've never even thought about it as like

a magnet for those phosphates in order

127

to help our bodies create that ATP too

and, and have easier access to that.

128

Which, yeah, like you said, ATP affects

all systems within our bodies and we need

129

that energy for all systems in our bodies.

130

So why, you know, thinking backwards,

why could creatine not also affect all

131

of those systems within our body in such

a positive way and not be this sort of.

132

Yeah, I, I don't want people to

think about it as just this, this

133

external thing we're adding to our

bodies, because like you said, our

134

bodies naturally produce it too.

135

So it's not something

that is just external.

136

That's another supplement we have

to add to our routine in order to

137

maximize our health and wellness.

138

You know, this is something that

is in our body naturally and helps

139

multiple systems within our body.

140

So, thinking about creatine like

that magnet and how it, from an

141

overarching perspective helps our

energy levels and produce energy within

142

our bodies for all sorts of cells.

143

I couldn't help but also think of, I

guess the old saying that creatine is.

144

Muscle fuel.

145

And like you said, we think about

it with skeletal muscle, like our

146

typically exercised muscles being,

oh, this is what creatine is good for.

147

But now, like you said, we know it's

good for some of the neurological systems

148

within our body, reaction, time, power.

149

But I, as I was prepping for this episode,

I was also trying to shift my perspective

150

towards your research and your expertise.

151

Within the female reproductive system

and knowing that that is probably

152

more of a smooth muscle system.

153

And how does creatine actually

affect our, not only skeletal

154

muscle system, but also that female

health and our female reproductive

155

system, like in your research?

156

Stacey Ellery: Yeah, so it all

comes down to cells needing enough

157

energy to conduct their processes.

158

And so for skeletal

159

muscle obviously the processes

160

that are really important are

those contractile functions.

161

And there's a lot of creatin in

skeletal muscle cell because they

162

have that high energy capacity

163

and the need

164

to do that for our reproductive tissues

165

The easier To

166

think about it is the regeneration.

167

So

168

if we think about

169

the female reproductive cycle

170

we have

171

follicles developing every month

172

and eventually.

173

Releasing a mature oocyte.

174

We have our, functional.

175

Layer of the uterus

176

growing

177

and then

178

shedding away,

179

with the menstrual

180

cycle

181

And all of those processes are

super high energy demanding.

182

and so that is where

183

Creatine, comes into it

184

so we've been

185

able

186

to show and others have shown that cells.

187

they just have a high energy capacity

188

because they're constantly turning over

189

Do actually use

190

creatine to

191

help balance

192

that energy

193

requirement.

194

So it's a bit of a

195

shift

196

in the thinking

197

from what we traditionally

198

Consider the role of creatine

where energy burst and

199

contractile function

200

It's more about

201

tissue regeneration

202

, and building and the

energy required to conduct

203

those processes.

204

Kelsy: I hadn't even thought about

the need for regeneration every month.

205

Like that's, and the menstrual

cycle is a primary example.

206

And I know we'll get into the

pregnancy postpartum, 'cause I know

207

that's probably even more related

to some of, that regeneration and

208

that turnover a little bit too.

209

But I had never even thought about

it in that regard, so that's awesome.

210

when

211

Stacey Ellery: you think about it in a

212

pregnancy.

213

you're growing a whole

new little human being.

214

You're growing a whole new

incredible organ simultaneously,

215

which is supporting the development

of that new little person and

216

conducting all

217

. of the major organ

218

systems that

219

being the placenta.

220

And so the, sheer amount of tissue

221

development and generation that's

occurring through that process.

222

In what is relatively a short

223

period of time in

224

That 40 weeks.

225

Yeah.

226

High energy demands and

cells really require

227

to tap into

228

all of their energy producing systems,

including creatine, metabolism.

229

Kelsy: So when we're talking about

creatine and we'll, we'll talk about

230

it through, let's say the female

reproductive system as our lens, but

231

is there an increased benefit for

utilizing creatine during, let's say,

232

different phases of our menstrual cycle

or different trimesters in pregnancy

233

or even when you're trying to conceive

or in that postpartum phase, are there

234

increased benefits of creatine utilization

throughout all of those phases?

235

Stacey Ellery: Yeah, so it's a

236

fantastic question and the answer

237

is we're at different stages

of our understanding for

238

those different elements

239

And so

240

we have a relatively good

understanding now that.

241

I say, creatine is

242

being used

243

by different cells

244

within the body throughout that process

245

So we know

246

creatine

247

is used for the

248

oo cyte during that maturation phase.

249

We know that there's creatine

250

in the uterine fluids around

the time of ovulation.

251

sperm.

252

love creatine.

253

They have their

254

very own little

255

creatine

256

transporter,

257

that's not found on any other cell in the

258

body To

259

With their motility

260

and their function

261

with that key role.

262

Of needing to get to the egg.

263

. We know that there's creatine in the

264

uterus

265

the placenta, the developing fetus.

266

what the research

267

is still

268

somewhat in

269

its infancy is

270

understanding,

271

Exactly what role

272

that creatine plays, whether

273

if there's lower creatine than what we

274

would anticipate, seeing is tied to,

275

complications, whether that is with

conceiving or the development of

276

complications during the pregnancy

277

or.

278

complications during labor.

279

And then finally because

we can manipulate that

280

creatine system quite

simply using nutritional

281

supplements, is there a benefit

282

And so in a

283

nutshell, at the at the front so in that

284

reproductive conception phase,

285

we don't know

286

much about.

287

the potential benefits of a

creatine supplement at this

288

point other than there was once.

289

study looking In

290

mice where they put creatine

291

in the

292

IVF medium and the

little sperm did better.

293

They swam better and there was a

better rate of embryo production.

294

But that's as far as

295

we know in that space.

296

In pregnancy, we've really been

297

focusing on the benefits of a supplement

for the baby, if they're, is a

298

complication due to oxygen deprivation.

299

And we can touch on that

in a lot more detail.

300

A little bit later on.

301

Postpartum, We dunno very

much at all at this stage.

302

And All a little bit all over the shop,

but we are working our way slowly through

303

those different phases and yeah, I'm happy

to guide through, what we do know and what

304

we don't know for each of those different.

305

Very crucial time points in

a women's reproductive life.

306

Kelsy: Definitely.

307

And I think viewing it from,

like you said initially, that

308

energy perspective rather than.

309

I was thinking about it from a, like

you said, similar to skeletal muscle,

310

like smooth muscle perspective.

311

But if we think about it with the energy

demands on our reproductive system during

312

this phase in our life, it's so, so great.

313

Right?

314

Like our bodies are going

through so, so much.

315

So I think that even that

perspective shift helps.

316

You guys formulate questions too and

hypotheses, but also helps me as someone

317

who's learning about this for the first

time to understand it in a little bit.

318

Of a better way and how it could

potentially be used for all

319

of these different phases in

such a positive, positive way.

320

So when we're talking about the creatine

that's naturally occurring within our

321

body, and especially in our female

reproductive system, and some of

322

those organs where you find creatine.

323

How much of supplementation can

actually get to that area and

324

affect that area positively?

325

Or is there a maximum dose that might not

reach there or might go somewhere else?

326

Stacey Ellery: Similar to tissues that

have been studied really intensively,

327

so particularly skeletal muscle, it

does appear as if reproductive tissues

328

there, there is a Capacity limit

329

to how much creatine

that they will take up.

330

And it really varies

331

depending on the tissues.

332

So

333

in terms of the research,

334

for us,

335

the most we know is around

336

the uterine tissue.

337

During

338

pregnancy.

339

We know that we can

340

increase uterine, creatine content with

a maternal supplementation by around 20%.

341

in some ways that's similar to

skeletal muscle, but the caveat to

342

that is that we don't know exactly

343

How that creatine

344

is being used and then

345

whether with if the tissue was stressed

in a particular way, whether the.

346

Tissue would do better with

that extra creatine there.

347

So it does have the capacity to do it.

348

We just don't know

349

yet, What those

350

using that creatine for.

351

So that, that is ongoing

research for sure.

352

Kelsy: so let's talk a little

bit about creatine's effects on

353

fetal development, and especially

during high risk pregnancies or

354

high risk situations for the baby.

355

What have you guys found?

356

That is a positive use of

creatine for fetal development.

357

Stacey Ellery: Yeah, absolutely.

358

So our focus has really been

looking at complications that

359

arise during labor and delivery.

360

It's a really devastating

complication called birth asphyxia.

361

Thankfully it's not super common

in countries like the US and

362

Australia In developing countries

where they don't have the level of

363

obstetric monitoring necessarily

during pregnancy are still quite

364

high.

365

And basically it's a complication that can

366

arise which causes a significant

drop in oxygen delivery to the,

367

fetus.

368

So that might be a.

369

cord being compressed, the placenta

370

coming away a little

371

bit too early.

372

Just a really long,

373

and strenuous labor can, really start to

374

challenge those energy

reserves of the little fetus.

375

And, this oxygen

376

deprivation it can be particularly

377

devastating, For

378

the fetal brain we can

get Brain injury that

379

Can.

380

Lead

381

to the

382

infant not surviving, but also

383

long

384

term neurological

385

conditions such as

cerebral palsy And other,

386

Neurological disadvantages.

387

And so we approached this as

388

creatine being a way of increasing the

389

energy whilst the

390

oxygen levels were

391

low.

392

And the cool thing

393

about creatine was

394

that, We could

395

give mom a supplement.

396

See if we could get that

into the fetal brain

397

and just have it sit there in

case a complication arises.

398

'cause this is the tricky thing about

birth complications, especially,

399

you know, you can have the most

gloriously, uncomplicated, boring

400

pregnancy and then in those final minutes

have something really tragic happen.

401

And so.

402

The creatine could sit there as an

403

insurance policy,

404

as a way that

405

the fetus can continue to produce energy.

406

If there's a complication that arises

where oxygen and nutrient delivery

407

is

408

shut off,

409

and what we've found through animal

models particularly is that if

410

we do increase.

411

the

412

fetal creatine levels,

particularly in the brain

413

but also in other organs, and

then subject the fetus to oxygen

414

deprivation at the time of birth.

415

that the fetuses

416

do much better.

417

We have higher survival rates across

our mouse, and we also use sheep quite

418

often for pregnancy research.

419

We've looked

420

Intricately at metabolism of The brain

the brain is doing much better at

421

maintaining those oxygen levels.

422

And then we don't see some of the

key complications associated with

423

oxygen deprivation in the

424

fetuses as well.

425

So we see less seizures postnatally.

426

We see better behavioral

427

outcomes and better survival,

428

as I said.

429

So it's almost this idea of using

430

creatine as an insurance policy.

431

for these complications that arrive.

432

I guess not too dissimilar to how

a lot of people use folate for, The

433

potential development of spina bifida.

434

you know,

435

There's not a

436

huge number of babies that will

have that complication, but we can

437

use a safe and simple nutritional

intervention to safeguard against it.

438

And our approach to

439

using creatine

440

for the fetus has been similar.

441

Kelsy: That's funny that

you mentioned folate.

442

'cause one of the things I got out of

one of my university courses was my

443

professor, not her specialty at all,

but she said everyone of childbearing

444

age should be taking a supplement with

folate in it because of this exact reason.

445

And I'm not sure if she had, a story

with this, or a reminder of this in

446

some way, but it was something, I think

it was a motor development course,

447

and I was just like, okay, from now

on, you know, it was funny, but for,

448

Stacey Ellery: cereals are now fortified

with folate for this particular reason,

449

so that, women of reproductive age we

don't need to necessarily think about it

450

too much in the lead up to the pregnancy

because it's been taken care of for us.

451

Yeah, we've been studying creatine in

a similar mindset to the folate story.

452

Kelsy: And thinking about

it as an insurance policy.

453

'cause that's exactly how folate

was presented to me, was like

454

a just in case sort of thing.

455

You know, like, oh, you

guys are in college.

456

You might not be trying to get pregnant

at this time, but just in case it can

457

help the baby's brain development too.

458

So thinking of creatine in that way.

459

A few questions based on some

of your research, Is there a

460

timing component to this creatine

for before labor and delivery?

461

And then you are saying that typically

the pregnancies leading up to labor and

462

delivery are healthy, and then all of

a sudden there might be something that

463

happens in these animal studies that

need the creatine that you guys have.

464

Enhanced in or increased the capacity

in their brains that they've then

465

had a more successful outcome after,

like it could be a completely normal

466

pregnancy up until that point, and then

they experience some sort of hypoxic

467

event to, to cause some of this.

468

Is that accurate?

469

Stacey Ellery: that's the

way we've been studying it.

470

There are certain pregnancy complications

which make the risk of those hypoxic

471

events during labor higher.

472

But they can occur through

any pregnancy and I.

473

in terms of what we've actually

been studying is we've just started

474

with a healthy pregnancy and then

a single acute hypoxic insult at

475

delivery as our starting point.

476

But we have done some really interesting

477

work looking at particularly

creatine in the placenta of.

478

Common pregnancy complications,

so your fetal growth

479

restrictions, your preeclampsia.

480

across the board we see in those

sort of chronic environments of

481

hypoxia and nutrient restriction

that tissues seem to try

482

and endogenously increase

their creatine levels.

483

So the placenta with

484

FGR has higher creatine.

485

The preeclamptic placenta

has higher creatine.

486

When we studied labor in women, so

healthy labors we see some interesting

487

associations between the labor length.

488

and the sort of energy intensity of

489

the labor and the amount of creatine

being delivered to the fetus.

490

we've got

491

insights from some of our studies to

suggest that the creatine might be more

492

beneficial for some

493

pregnancies over others,

494

But by

495

just studying healthy pregnancies and a

496

direct insult, We can say, okay it could

be potentially useful for everybody.

497

then if these other

498

complications arise we would just assume

that they would also be beneficial.

499

And we've got some evidence that,

you know, these tissues are turning

500

to creatine for energy production

during these complicated environments.

501

Kelsy: And it doesn't sound like it'll

harm anything if, even if you know, you

502

might not have the situation that benefits

from it as much as another situation.

503

It's not like it has this harmful

effect on the baby's development

504

or the labor and delivery.

505

Stacey Ellery: I'm so pleased you brought

506

that up because that is something from

the get go that we have been so super

507

conscious of is that, if we ever got

to the point where we were going to be

508

recommending creatine To everybody during

509

pregnancy, that safety profile

510

is.

511

Absolutely critical because, we

512

might be talking about a hypoxic insult

513

occurring to one baby in every a thousand.

514

So there's 99 babies there

that have been exposed.

515

to creatine for no obvious reason.

516

And in all of our

517

experimental designs, we've always

made sure that we have a group of

518

animals or tissue explants that

519

have been exposed to

520

creatine at the same level, but

just been allowed to successfully

521

go through with their healthy

522

pregnancy.

523

And really um, done our best to

interrogate what's happening.

524

And yeah, we don't see

525

Any variations in the development

of the fetus associated With

526

that exposure to creatine?

527

It's definitely something that we

528

continue to be focused on

529

and as we

530

move into human studies,

531

it's definitely at the top

532

of our priority list.

533

But at this

534

age We don't see anything, anything,

535

that concerns us.

536

And I think it's an interesting

point too because even in the

537

last five years, the number of women

of reproductive age that are taking

538

creatine has gone up substantially

because of our increased understanding of

539

the benefits

540

Not just for exercise performance,

but for mood and cognition,

541

especially those that are sleep

542

deprived.

543

people might be shift workers.

544

And so we have a lot of women

coming to us saying they

545

take creatine, they like creatine,

but they're wanting to get pregnant.

546

What do we know

547

about the safety profile?

548

For mine.

549

Even if our research, you know,

550

and hopefully it will,

but if it doesn't get

551

to the point where

creatine is recommended for

552

as a, you know, safeguarding pregnancy or

553

with a particular

pregnancy benefit in mind.

554

I think we're at a point in time

where it's absolutely integral that

555

we understand the safety of creatine

supplementation during pregnancy

556

for those women out there that

are taking it for other reasons.

557

Kelsy: So are the current recommendations

right now to not supplement with creatine

558

during pregnancy and postpartum, or Where

is that line sort of drawn right now?

559

And I'm sure it's different

country to country,

560

Stacey Ellery: Yeah, it's a little

bit different country to country.

561

It's the official recommendation

is to not take it.

562

But that's purely just a

position based on the fact that

563

there's not enough evidence to

564

say either way.

565

And everyone obviously is

on the side of caution.

566

And then remembering that creatine,

567

as you say, your body produces it.

568

you consume it.

569

If consuming animal products

particularly meat and fish you are

570

metabolizing, creatine

571

every day throughout your pregnancy.

572

You're likely consuming it if

you're on an omnivorous diet.

573

there really is.

574

no,

575

toxicity level associated with creatine.

576

But having said that,

577

you know, you wanna be

conscious of these things.

578

So at this point in time,

579

it's really a personal

decision and a conversation

580

to have with your healthcare provider.

581

And my stance is that there,

there's no evidence to

582

suggest

583

that a creatine supplement taken

584

in those dose ranges that are

recommended for other conditions.

585

between.

586

So

587

five and 20 grams a

588

day is likely to.

589

cause any concerns during pregnancy.

590

But we're still generating

evidence behind that.

591

Kelsy: And based on what we know about

the science behind creatine and how

592

it works in our body, why couldn't

we eventually get there one day?

593

to show it is super beneficial

for women in all of these phases

594

of our lives because even Dr.

595

Katie's episode, she mentioned creatine

loading in our luteal phase, . Pulling

596

in that phosphate, pulling in that extra

hydration into the muscles because in

597

our luteal phase, creatine, loading can

help with some of the recovery, power

598

generation, all of that kind of stuff.

599

So it's like, okay, wouldn't

that be great to be able to apply

600

that and have enough research?

601

Again, thanks to you guys to say

postpartum when sleep deprivation and

602

energy is just running a little bit lower.

603

if we can have that, Recommendation

and the research backing it up to

604

say, this is going to be so helpful

for you too, as a woman postpartum or

605

during any phase of, pregnancy labor

and delivery or postpartum experience

606

Stacey Ellery: absolutely.

607

And I think the tide is definitely

turning across all of those elements.

608

I.

609

You know, Intentionally neglected,

but I think people just didn't

610

really think about the way in

which our wonderful hormones,

611

particularly estrogen

612

that is, you know, so

critical in that they

613

need to, fluctuate

stages of the reproductive

614

cycle to, to run all these components

and ensure we have a healthy

615

pregnancy, but they

616

muck around with many different

elements of, the human body, so

617

our brain, our capacity to exercise,

all of those kinds of things.

618

And so there really does need to be a

focus on how we can understand those

619

processes to start with so that women

620

don't feel like they're on their own.

621

And they're,

622

like, why am I so tired

623

today?

624

Or, you know oh, I'm

postpartum, I feel like rubbish.

625

Is it just because I'm.

626

You know, There's something wrong with me.

627

No, it's not.

628

There's a lot going on inside your body

and it's all interacting with each other.

629

And so we need to understand those

630

interactions and if We can intervene

631

in a safe

632

and in an easy

633

way, Then, we should do that.

634

And we need to

635

acknowledge that research needs

to be done and that women, you

636

know, deserve a little bit of help

in those times that, are tricky.

637

They're really tricky.

638

Kelsy: And even trickier to study too

and get approval for all of that, as

639

I'm sure you're very familiar with too.

640

I'm a physical therapist and everything,

you know, you learn indications

641

and contraindications and basically

yellow flags and pregnancy is always

642

a contraindication or a yellow flag

where it's like, we don't know if

643

dry needlings because we don't wanna

test it and we don't wanna find out.

644

You know, it's more of this

cautionary approach where.

645

it's wonderful to have people like you

who are willing to go through that effort

646

to actually see where we can find benefit

and help women out in all of these phases

647

that are pretty demanding on our bodies.

648

Stacey Ellery: absolutely.

649

I think historically people were

trying to do the right thing,

650

like I just let them focus on the

pregnancy and let's not intervene.

651

And gosh, it would be horrible if

we did something and it adversely

652

impacted on the pregnancy.

653

But I think I.

654

now, if we sit back and reflect

655

on the last few decades,

at least of research, we

656

can kind of say, oh, actually, that

657

probably

658

wasn't the best

659

stance to, to take.

660

'cause now pregnant women are isolated

661

In many elements of medicine because we

just don't have the right understanding of

662

how different treatments or different

approaches to management of diseases.

663

and things.

664

Should be catered for in

665

pregnant

666

women.

667

'cause we have chosen

not to study in them.

668

So I think the tide is turning

669

a little bit.

670

And through my experience of working

with pregnant women is that they're just.

671

So generous with their time and

resources because, there's this

672

sense of we're all in this together.

673

I'm happy to help you out with

your research if it's gonna help

674

somebody else in the future.

675

So it's actually, it's a

beautiful community to work in.

676

And yeah it's fantastic that we

are now slowly starting to get the

677

opportunity to generate data in

pregnant women and really find answers

678

which are specific to their needs.

679

Kelsy: I always say I love being born in

this time period because I really do feel

680

like exactly as you said, the tides are

turning where women's health is becoming

681

a more mainstream topic and a topic that

a lot of people aren't shying away from.

682

And I love being in it and a part

of it and just learning about it.

683

So I'm with you.

684

I'm very grateful to be in this time

and to see this shift happening because

685

I think it's just super, super cool.

686

I mean, it was just probably not even.

687

five, six decades ago where strength

training wasn't even recommended

688

for women, where it was like, no, we

don't, we don't wanna stress your body.

689

I know.

690

So it's just, it's a fun time to be

alive and be a woman at this time and

691

learning about all of this and learning

about our bodies in a deeper way.

692

I wanna refer back to

some of your research.

693

On how and when to implement creatine

during that labor and delivery process?

694

Is it before?

695

Is there a timing and a dosage

component that you guys are

696

finding in these animal studies?

697

Stacey Ellery: We do around a

two week supplement prior to

698

birth in our animal studies.

699

So.

700

Being that, so for our mice,

two weeks is half of their

701

gestation.

702

For the sheep it's not a huge

amount of their full gestation

703

and they're around 165 days.

704

So, we took a

705

similar approach to

706

the more traditional sports

medicine exercise space where

707

there needs to be a loading

708

phase and sort of, we went

with that kind of two week

709

loading phase.

710

We don't have a great

711

understanding of whether we could

712

lower that.

713

And we are Trying to have

a think at the moment.

714

actually.

715

I'm on the fence a tiny bit of.

716

Does it matter if it's safe and

we can recommend it safe from

717

the second half of gestation?

718

Obviously accounting for the

fact that, we don't know when

719

we're going to have our baby.

720

Sometimes they decide to come a bit early,

and so we could say, oh, two weeks out

721

from term start taking creatine, and

then bubs decides to come the next day.

722

We've

723

kind of taken the

724

position of sort of

725

Focusing on the third trimester

726

in terms of understanding

what dose of creatine

727

to take,

728

and we are

729

just doing pharmacokinetics studies

in pregnant women at the moment.

730

We've just finished recruiting and

731

done a lot, all our measurements Sent

the data away to our, pharmacologists

732

to do all of the different dosing.

733

But at this stage, and it's not

734

published data yet, but

interestingly, we see that our

735

pregnant women in the

736

third trimester actually handle

737

a dose

738

of creatine in exactly the same way as

739

nonpregnant women.

740

So if they take five grams of

741

creatine, we see a peak in plasma

742

creatine around an hour and a

half, two hours later, and then it

743

slowly tapers away across

the next eight to 10 hours.

744

So we actually thought that it would

745

be quite different

746

in pregnancy because, you know,

747

there's way more blood

flowing around your body.

748

You've got.

749

fetus taking up, creatine, the placenta,

taking up creatine changes in gut motility

750

changes in kidney excretion function.

751

But no.

752

So The moment

753

it actually looks like

it's exactly the same.

754

And we are

755

heading down the path of validating that.

756

But At this point, it looks like the

recommendation of creatine doses in

757

pregnancy will likely look similar to

758

actually what people.

759

Use currently

760

for

761

exercise performance

Or cognitive benefits?

762

So somewhere between

763

probably five and 15 grams

a day, In five gram doses.

764

Kelsy: And would you hypothesize that

first trimester, second trimester would

765

be the same or what do you guys think

might be the case throughout pregnancy?

766

Stacey Ellery: We can only assume

that if we don't see a difference

767

between non-pregnant and pregnant

women in the third trimester, we

768

would unlikely see it in the first and

second trimester because that's where.

769

The largest amount of growth and

obviously physiological changes in

770

the pregnant person are occurring.

771

It is interesting from

our pregnancy studies,

772

so where we've just looked at creatine

levels we actually see that creatine's

773

really stable throughout pregnancy.

774

Um, but it actually plasma

levels in the mom sit around

775

30% lower than what we see in

776

a non-pregnant population.

777

So

778

we started our measurements

779

around 10 weeks.

780

So somewhere between that

781

conceiving and 10 week

window, there seems to

782

be this rebalancing of

783

maternal plasma levels that we don't quite

784

understand at this point in time.

785

So that first

786

window might actually be a real

opportunity to try and, increase

787

creatine levels up again.

788

But that's just some

789

new exciting data that we're

790

still trying to work out

how to progress it forward.

791

But yeah, at this stage it's looking

like standard supplementation probably

792

across the whole pregnancy would

be what we would be recommending.

793

Kelsy: And I'm sure you and your research

group's minds go to the same thing about

794

that zero to 10 weeks, if there really

is that dip, like you said, correct.

795

Or, or that's what

796

Y'all think.

797

Stacey Ellery: It's just changing.

798

And it's really stable, as I said.

799

So we measured creatine levels

in around 300 different women.

800

Large variation in terms of Background

801

ethnicity, the hospital

that I work within, we're a

802

beautiful, multicultural area.

803

And Yeah, it was a really

804

consistent finding that

there is this drop off.

805

And that's just the body not having

the capacity to keep synthesis up

806

and to keep absorption up when,

you know, there are other places

807

for the creatine to go when you're

808

pregnant.

809

There's the center the

fetus that kind of thing.

810

Whether it's detrimental,

whether it's just a natural

811

thing that happens we don't know.

812

Or whether if there's complications

in that first 10 weeks, whether if

813

you did have more creatine available,

some of those complications might

814

not occur is a super interesting

question that we'd like to get at too.

815

Obviously, knowing the number

of pregnancies that don't go

816

past that first 10 week period,

817

Kelsy: That's immediately where my mind

went, just knowing the rate of miscarriage

818

within that first little bit of time if

we eventually apply that same insurance

819

policy mindset to even having a healthy

pregnancy and being able to conceive

820

and have a pregnancy last longer than

that 10 weeks, which I know is that

821

sensitive area for a miscarriage that

would be, super duper cool research

822

to have and information to have.

823

And I know that's exactly where you

guys are at with your mindset too.

824

Stacey Ellery: 10 weeks,

which is super common,

825

like one in four, which I always like to

mention because I think a lot of women are

826

still not super familiar with how common

miscarriage is in that first particularly

827

six weeks, but six to 10 weeks.

828

And, important to know that

if you are in that situation,

829

you are certainly not alone.

830

As I said, one in four pregnancies

will end in that first period

831

of time, primarily because

there's something not quite

832

right genetically with

the developing baby.

833

But

834

we have, seen some interesting

initial observations of

835

changes in the way in which the.

836

uterine lining.

837

Potentially makes creatine between

women who are fertile and women who

838

are experiencing primary infertility.

839

And

840

that Is that the women with primary

841

infertility actually look like

842

they have a higher capacity to

843

take up creatine.

844

In that luteal phase of the cycle.

845

So after ovulation, when

846

the uterine tissues really growing up,

847

big and you've got the implanting

of the embryo and there's a lot

848

of processes going on there,

which are energy demanding.

849

There, There might be something.

850

happening with creatine

metabolism there in women who

851

are struggling to conceive.

852

and that's definitely something

that we're following up.

853

at the moment.

854

And, Yeah, I'm really excited about seeing

855

what we can do because

there is a percentage of

856

pregnancies that are lost in

that early period of time.

857

that we just don't know why.

858

There's no clear

understanding from a genetic

859

perspective why that.

860

pregnancy wouldn't continue on.

861

The women are healthy, the men

are healthy, and so if there is

862

potentially an energy issue that

we could tackle with supplemental

863

creatine that would be amazing.

864

Kelsy: And you're saying in those with

primary infertility, they can store it,

865

but their utilization of it might not

be as, I guess, up to a hundred percent.

866

As someone who might not struggle with

infertility in those early phases.

867

Stacey Ellery: so it looks like

they're trying to store more,

868

the tissues are increasing their

869

Kelsy: Oh,

870

Stacey Ellery: of the creatine

transporter to potentially get more in.

871

And so we actually see

872

that adaptation quite a lot.

873

Again, harping back to those

pregnancy complications, so a placenta

874

that's not functioning really well.

875

We see higher levels of

creatine in those placentas.

876

When the labor gets really

877

energetically intensive and

878

fatiguing, we see higher creatine

going across to the fetus.

879

In

880

our initial studies of

uterine slices at least

881

We see that the transporter expression

882

is much higher

883

in women with that infertility.

884

So the next step is actually to

885

measure the creatine levels

886

between the two populations and

887

I've got a study that's just about

to get underway to, to do that.

888

we got just a little

889

hint, From looking at some

previously archived tissues that

890

something might be happening there.

891

And so now we're about to

892

kick off a really,

893

a new avenue

894

of research that hasn't

been a focus for us.

895

that really that early

896

conception phase.

897

And whether creatine

could be a benefit there.

898

So hopefully I'll have more

data to share with you in that

899

space in the coming years.

900

Kelsy: I love it because I do think

infertility is a very common topic

901

right now, and like you said, it's

becoming more and more talked about and

902

more and more women are understanding

how many people go through it.

903

But still, we're in this realm and

so I feel like some of the time

904

I have this bias to think that.

905

Everyone knows this, everyone understands

this when it's not the case at all.

906

Right.

907

So I'm so glad you mentioned the one

in four stat and just helping other

908

people understand that this is something

that people are working on to help.

909

Because I know it's just the

emotions that go into it and the

910

physical challenges that go into it.

911

It's just, it's a very,

very tough process.

912

So I'm very, very glad that

you mentioned that too.

913

I want to talk a little bit about

how much you guys know about creatine

914

in the fetus and in the baby.

915

So we've been talking a lot about

maternal and we've talked about

916

the brain development and the

insurance policy with creatine for

917

hypoxic environments for the fetus.

918

But how are you guys measuring or how,

how are you understanding how much

919

creatine is actually getting into.

920

The fetus and into the baby.

921

And does that carry into possibly

postpartum and breastfeeding

922

and that sort of thing?

923

Stacey Ellery: Yeah, absolutely.

924

So we

925

know that all of the key tissues in

the fetus that uses creatine and that,

926

that our bodies are using creatine too.

927

So skeletal muscle, the brain in

particular, these reproductive

928

tissues that I've mentioned.

929

There is a slow, accretion

of creatine in those

930

fetal tissues across that period of time.

931

And the composition is really similar to

932

what we,

933

see in adults.

934

so the vast

935

majority of creatine is being

stored in the skeletal muscle.

936

There's a relative chunk in the brain,

in other tissues there's some there.

937

Not as much as you see

938

Otherwise.

939

And it kind of follows pattern of Is it a

tissue that experiences quick fluctuations

940

in energy, like skeletal muscle, which

lean on creatine for energy production?

941

Or is it a tissue that really lacks

942

nice, sustained energy and doesn't Do well

943

with fluctuations like the brain?

944

That's where we're seeing the

945

creatine levels.

946

Interestingly though, you

947

bring up postpartum, so

there's been a couple of

948

really fascinating studies.

949

Um.

950

Creatine in the postpartum period

because anyone that's had A,

951

baby or knows anyone that has a baby.

952

How quickly those babies

953

grow after they are born

is like mind blowing.

954

And again, leaning back on that

955

energy for growth, energy

956

for regeneration mindset.

957

Obviously there needs

958

to be creatine to

959

support those growing tissues and even

just for those tissues to have the

960

creatine in them as they get bigger.

961

so there's been a lot of research

962

recently looking at creatine

in breast milk, also looking

963

at creatine in formula and

964

Basically.

965

We need to get our

966

babies a nutritional source of creatine.

967

Their bodies don't

968

seem to have the capacity to synthesize

969

enough to

970

sustain that huge amount of growth.

971

Breast milk

972

definitely has creatine in it.

973

Highest levels are in the

immediate, period postpartum

974

So in your colostrum and in those first

couple of weeks then it fluctuates a.

975

little bit and starts to taper out.

976

Formula, if it's cow's

milk derived or animal

977

derived, there's creatine in there.

978

Soy-based formulas actually don't

have any creatine in them at

979

all, which is, a little bit of a

980

red flag for me personally, just

knowing the need for creatine

981

for growth and development.

982

Perhaps

983

if that's.

984

You know, the path you are

985

taking, it would be worth

having a conversation with your

986

healthcare team about particular

nutrients creatine as one example

987

that your baby might not be

getting, that they otherwise need.

988

And yeah there's still a

989

lot to unpack in that space.

990

but yeah, there's definitely a

991

need for creatine to support that

growth of the developing baby.

992

and we know from babies that

993

Can't produce creatine in

their early postnatal period.

994

So

995

there are some babies that

have a genetic condition.

996

which means that their bodies can't

make it so they're solely reliant

997

on nutritional creatine.

998

Those babies are

999

usually super healthy and

00:41:12,419 --> 00:41:17,407

happy because they've had mom giving them

an exogenous source of creatine for that

00:41:17,407 --> 00:41:18,577

whole period of time.

00:41:18,902 --> 00:41:19,990

If you take away that

00:41:19,990 --> 00:41:21,250

exogenous source.

00:41:21,490 --> 00:41:22,990

and there's a soul reliance on

00:41:23,070 --> 00:41:27,000

On the body, making it those babies

start to get really sick and particularly

00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,177

show deficits in, in neurological

00:41:29,219 --> 00:41:29,969

capacity.

00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:34,849

So again, indirect measure, but clear

evidence that creatine's important for

00:41:34,849 --> 00:41:37,159

our bubs in that early growth period.

00:41:37,189 --> 00:41:37,879

Postpartum.

00:41:38,637 --> 00:41:42,597

Kelsy: So, so important and I'm amazed

at all that is coming up and all that

00:41:42,597 --> 00:41:46,137

can come up in some of this research

and all that you guys have researched.

00:41:46,137 --> 00:41:46,817

I'm , just.

00:41:47,052 --> 00:41:50,772

Taking it all in too, because I

think it's so, so cool and you keep

00:41:50,772 --> 00:41:53,052

mentioning so many things where I'm

like, oh my gosh, it'll be so cool

00:41:53,052 --> 00:41:54,582

once that research becomes available.

00:41:54,582 --> 00:41:56,982

and once we know more about

that, and I know that's probably

00:41:56,982 --> 00:41:58,602

what excites you as well too, so

00:41:58,847 --> 00:41:59,087

Stacey Ellery: gets.

00:41:59,292 --> 00:42:02,922

Kelsy: I know and it's, it's like you

said, it's a fun group to, to work with

00:42:02,952 --> 00:42:05,652

and just be a part of because it's.

00:42:06,062 --> 00:42:08,822

Been neglected for, a little bit of

time, and like you said, probably in

00:42:08,822 --> 00:42:11,382

a good way And, and what they thought

was a safe way and a helpful way.

00:42:11,382 --> 00:42:15,212

But now it's like, okay, we're biohacking

the rest of our lives, you know, how

00:42:15,212 --> 00:42:17,222

can we help pregnant women as well?

00:42:17,262 --> 00:42:19,772

and babies and in the

postpartum phase as well too.

00:42:19,772 --> 00:42:23,792

So, I know you are also recently

postpartum, so if you don't mind sharing,

00:42:23,822 --> 00:42:28,442

how have you utilized creatine throughout

your pregnancy postpartum phase, or.

00:42:28,502 --> 00:42:32,102

what benefits did you see within your

own body and possibly within your

00:42:32,102 --> 00:42:35,402

own baby with the use of creatine,

if that was what you chose to

00:42:35,402 --> 00:42:36,752

supplement with during pregnancy?

00:42:36,980 --> 00:42:38,082

Stacey Ellery: I have two little ones.

00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:43,922

I was definitely met with my research

firsthand a couple of years ago of

00:42:43,930 --> 00:42:45,782

making that decision of what to do.

00:42:46,100 --> 00:42:47,742

We hadn't quite progressed to some of our

00:42:47,742 --> 00:42:51,172

safety work, As far as we have now

when I was pregnant with my son.

00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:54,984

But I did decide to

take creatine regularly.

00:42:54,984 --> 00:42:57,169

I wasn't really religious

about it, would say.

00:42:57,219 --> 00:42:58,741

If I was having a smoothie or.

00:42:58,906 --> 00:43:00,286

Having a bowl of cereal, I just

00:43:00,286 --> 00:43:01,696

chuck a little bit of extra on.

00:43:02,043 --> 00:43:03,873

he popped Out healthy and happy.

00:43:03,873 --> 00:43:05,433

I was very fortunate to have

00:43:05,433 --> 00:43:08,613

a super low risk

pregnancy with him and so.

00:43:08,913 --> 00:43:13,683

I would probably fall into that 99%

category of having the creatine and it

00:43:13,683 --> 00:43:16,633

being there not showing any adverse.

00:43:17,206 --> 00:43:20,086

Outcomes, but also probably

not needing to be leaned on

00:43:20,086 --> 00:43:21,646

from an energetic perspective.

00:43:21,964 --> 00:43:24,426

For my little girl, I

actually didn't take creatine.

00:43:24,476 --> 00:43:28,496

Partly because we were running our

dosing study at the time and I really

00:43:28,496 --> 00:43:30,746

wanted to be a participant in the study.

00:43:31,124 --> 00:43:36,166

The stars actually didn't align for me

to be able to do that for a few reasons.

00:43:36,424 --> 00:43:39,046

But yeah, I didn't, I didn't

actually take creatine

00:43:39,046 --> 00:43:41,488

with her, not because I

had any concerns about it.

00:43:41,488 --> 00:43:44,068

It just, yeah, it was for

other practical reasons.

00:43:44,378 --> 00:43:49,578

I have been taking creatine postpartum

after my little girl just because of the

00:43:49,608 --> 00:43:52,608

data that's come out recently,

particularly around sleep

00:43:52,608 --> 00:43:58,718

deprivation, cognitive performance

mood and even postpartum recovery.

00:43:58,726 --> 00:43:59,376

you know, I.

00:43:59,376 --> 00:44:00,846

say it out loud and I.

00:44:01,521 --> 00:44:06,051

Kind of shake my head at the fact that we

haven't already been studying this for a

00:44:06,051 --> 00:44:10,801

long time because it makes so much sense

that there could be a potential benefit

00:44:10,801 --> 00:44:13,471

of creatine in the postpartum space.

00:44:13,471 --> 00:44:17,151

And I feel like postpartum is

certainly, that fourth trimester.

00:44:17,691 --> 00:44:21,411

Has been neglected in

general up until recently.

00:44:21,471 --> 00:44:23,541

And yes, I have chosen to take it.

00:44:23,799 --> 00:44:26,431

I'm still pretty tired, but I feel okay.

00:44:27,379 --> 00:44:29,771

And yeah, you bring your

personal life to your work.

00:44:29,771 --> 00:44:32,951

It's definitely given me the

motivation to really start.

00:44:33,101 --> 00:44:36,861

Exploring that postpartum period

because in some ways it can be

00:44:36,861 --> 00:44:39,531

the most challenging after having a baby.

00:44:39,531 --> 00:44:40,903

And if we can implement

00:44:40,903 --> 00:44:42,613

some things simple lifestyle

00:44:42,613 --> 00:44:44,983

interventions such as

exercise or nutritional

00:44:44,983 --> 00:44:49,313

supplements in that space that

isn't too onerous to add to

00:44:49,313 --> 00:44:51,713

the plate of postpartum women.

00:44:51,770 --> 00:44:52,610

But that could help.

00:44:52,610 --> 00:44:56,378

I, I, yeah, it would be

fantastic to be able to do that.

00:44:57,136 --> 00:44:58,876

Kelsy: Well, I have not been pregnant.

00:44:58,876 --> 00:44:59,716

I'm not postpartum.

00:44:59,716 --> 00:45:03,256

But if you ever need another study

participant from Austin and from

00:45:03,736 --> 00:45:07,066

across the world, I'm like you, where

if I can be that experiment for other

00:45:07,066 --> 00:45:08,386

people and for myself, because I.

00:45:08,670 --> 00:45:10,410

my body's my greatest experiment too.

00:45:10,410 --> 00:45:14,250

So if I can, utilize certain things in

certain time periods and understand it

00:45:14,250 --> 00:45:15,990

a little better, that would be amazing.

00:45:15,990 --> 00:45:20,930

It's just such a fun field to be a

part of because there is so much room

00:45:20,930 --> 00:45:26,060

for development and growth and just

like, not even tangents, but like

00:45:26,060 --> 00:45:29,750

necessary tangents off of some of the

current research that we already have.

00:45:29,750 --> 00:45:32,930

So I, I'm super, super excited about it.

00:45:33,145 --> 00:45:35,365

Stacey Ellery: no, it's gonna

be a great couple of um,

00:45:37,435 --> 00:45:39,560

we'll see in the 10 to.

00:45:42,684 --> 00:45:43,344

Hugely.

00:45:43,352 --> 00:45:48,144

And for the benefit of mom and bubs

because yeah, they just, left to

00:45:48,144 --> 00:45:49,584

their own devices at the moment.

00:45:49,592 --> 00:45:55,134

And it's an incredibly um, you know, the

physiological changes that are occurring

00:45:55,134 --> 00:45:58,764

in that postpartum period, particularly

if you're breastfeeding, but also if

00:45:58,764 --> 00:46:02,754

You choose not to breastfeed, there's

so much happening, so much repair,

00:46:02,754 --> 00:46:04,464

so much recovery, so much growth.

00:46:04,789 --> 00:46:08,547

So much hormone fluctuation going

on that we really need to understand

00:46:08,547 --> 00:46:13,617

that and to try and come up with some

interventions to help women smoothly

00:46:13,647 --> 00:46:15,627

go through that transition phase.

00:46:16,385 --> 00:46:19,055

Kelsy: Talk about something else that

affects all systems of our body, not

00:46:19,055 --> 00:46:20,765

only our physical cells, but yeah.

00:46:20,795 --> 00:46:24,145

Cognition, emotion, like fatigue,

all of those sorts of things too.

00:46:24,835 --> 00:46:28,505

So I know we've talked a lot about

a lot of different things today.

00:46:28,505 --> 00:46:31,445

We've covered so many topics, but

is there anything that we haven't

00:46:31,445 --> 00:46:35,915

covered that you feel like you

would like women to know about?

00:46:36,185 --> 00:46:37,355

Stacey Ellery: Um, no, not.

00:46:45,181 --> 00:46:48,179

Easy to digest facts, if that's

helpful to share with your,

00:46:48,179 --> 00:46:48,899

listeners.

00:46:48,929 --> 00:46:50,279

I guess it's just to point

00:46:50,279 --> 00:46:51,479

out that especially in the

00:46:51,479 --> 00:46:55,079

creatine space, there's some really

wonderful resources available,

00:46:55,259 --> 00:46:55,619

which are

00:46:55,899 --> 00:47:00,939

Research driven, So there's creatine for

health, which is a wonderful resource.

00:47:01,167 --> 00:47:04,902

There's YouTube videos links to podcasts,

00:47:05,262 --> 00:47:06,132

information

00:47:06,174 --> 00:47:10,394

that um, that would just be helpful

for, for for, women if they want

00:47:10,394 --> 00:47:12,434

to learn a little bit more about creatine.

00:47:12,644 --> 00:47:15,044

Again, just to try and

get through the noise of

00:47:15,464 --> 00:47:15,614

the

00:47:15,614 --> 00:47:16,574

social media and

00:47:16,574 --> 00:47:20,569

the influencers and The people

who have opinions but not

00:47:20,569 --> 00:47:22,899

necessarily opinions based in fact.

00:47:22,899 --> 00:47:25,509

I know that's really challenging

to navigate sometimes.

00:47:25,509 --> 00:47:26,979

So just to point out to your

00:47:26,979 --> 00:47:29,919

listeners that particularly in the

creatine space, there's a really

00:47:29,919 --> 00:47:33,309

wonderful collective of researchers

from all around the globe that

00:47:33,309 --> 00:47:35,289

contribute to one platform, which

00:47:35,289 --> 00:47:36,319

is, A go to.

00:47:37,069 --> 00:47:39,829

Yeah, just to say that I mean,

throughout all of these experiences,

00:47:39,829 --> 00:47:42,829

be kind to yourself, know

that, you're not necessarily in

00:47:42,829 --> 00:47:43,279

control

00:47:43,279 --> 00:47:45,709

of some of the changes that

are happening with your body.

00:47:45,717 --> 00:47:48,657

Give yourself some grace,

do what works for you.

00:47:48,657 --> 00:47:49,407

And, Yeah.

00:47:49,407 --> 00:47:53,547

We will continue to do our

pregnancy And reproductive research,

00:47:53,577 --> 00:47:54,912

with a focus on creatine

00:47:54,927 --> 00:47:57,357

to to try and come up with ways to,

00:47:57,417 --> 00:47:58,407

to enhance and

00:47:58,407 --> 00:47:59,787

improve outcomes in, in

00:47:59,787 --> 00:47:59,997

that.

00:47:59,997 --> 00:48:00,417

space.

00:48:00,925 --> 00:48:02,605

Kelsy: I am gonna be so grateful for it.

00:48:02,605 --> 00:48:04,015

I'm already so grateful for it.

00:48:04,015 --> 00:48:05,125

So, Dr.

00:48:05,125 --> 00:48:08,905

Stacey, thank you so much for joining

us on the podcast today, for sharing

00:48:08,905 --> 00:48:12,715

your expertise, your passion for this

field, for going through all of the

00:48:12,715 --> 00:48:16,645

hard work, both behind the scenes,

I'm sure, in regards to funding and

00:48:16,645 --> 00:48:19,645

grants and all of the things that go

into research, but then also in front

00:48:19,645 --> 00:48:24,385

of the scenes actually performing the

research and recruiting and just sharing.

00:48:24,520 --> 00:48:27,160

Your research and expertise

and education with the world.

00:48:27,160 --> 00:48:28,690

I'm so, so grateful.

00:48:28,690 --> 00:48:32,050

I've been looking forward to this

interview for, you know, weeks and weeks

00:48:32,050 --> 00:48:33,940

and ever since probably February when Dr.

00:48:33,940 --> 00:48:37,360

Katie mentioned it, and I'm

so, so happy to have gotten to

00:48:37,360 --> 00:48:38,590

interview you finally today.

00:48:38,590 --> 00:48:39,880

So thank you so, so much.

00:48:39,880 --> 00:48:41,110

Stacey Ellery: Oh, it's

my absolute pleasure.

00:48:41,188 --> 00:48:45,422

I just, this tiny serendipitous moment

when you contacted me back in February,

00:48:45,692 --> 00:48:47,792

my postdoctoral researcher, Dr.

00:48:47,792 --> 00:48:51,752

Nee Tran, who, if anyone wants to go and

have a look at the science, you'll see her

00:48:51,752 --> 00:48:53,492

name pop up at the front of most of it.

00:48:53,502 --> 00:48:56,177

particularly the neuroscience,

she's the go-getter there.

00:48:56,662 --> 00:48:59,602

She'd literally a couple of

days earlier had a baby girl

00:48:59,602 --> 00:49:02,132

herself and her name is Kelsey.

00:49:02,132 --> 00:49:03,872

So it was just this.

00:49:04,005 --> 00:49:06,487

serendipitous moment of

it all coming together.

00:49:06,495 --> 00:49:09,997

I was absolutely thrilled to be given

the opportunity to chat with you.

00:49:10,755 --> 00:49:11,595

Kelsy: That is funny.

00:49:11,595 --> 00:49:15,455

I, the name means brave, so if

she's a big name person, I love

00:49:15,455 --> 00:49:16,775

thinking about that for my own name.

00:49:16,775 --> 00:49:18,035

So that is super cool.

00:49:18,185 --> 00:49:19,835

Well, you are welcome back anytime.

00:49:19,835 --> 00:49:24,275

I would love to have you on, whenever

new things are coming up and you guys

00:49:24,275 --> 00:49:27,815

find out new things because I just feel

like this is something that I am super.

00:49:27,965 --> 00:49:30,395

interested in and we'll keep up with

your research I'll leave some of

00:49:30,395 --> 00:49:33,275

those links below and some of the

researchers that people can look into if

00:49:33,275 --> 00:49:35,225

they're interested to learn even more.

00:49:35,255 --> 00:49:35,855

Stacey Ellery: Amazing.

00:49:35,855 --> 00:49:36,785

Knowledge is key.

00:49:36,785 --> 00:49:38,240

So happy to help out there.

00:49:38,998 --> 00:49:39,328

Kelsy: Yes.

00:49:39,328 --> 00:49:40,288

I completely agree.

00:49:40,288 --> 00:49:43,378

And once you have it, it can't be taken

away, so it's the more, the better.

00:49:43,378 --> 00:49:43,708

Right?

00:49:43,708 --> 00:49:45,508

It's insurance policy again.

00:49:46,258 --> 00:49:46,768

So.

00:49:46,978 --> 00:49:48,808

Well thank you guys so much for listening.

00:49:48,808 --> 00:49:52,108

I hope you got a lot out of this

episode and learned a lot, and I

00:49:52,108 --> 00:49:54,958

will see you guys again on the next

episode of Wellness Big Sis the Pod.