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Effectiveness of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise on Muscle and Bone

Potential of Resistance-Exercise and Creatine Supplementation on Aging Musculoskeletal Health

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01057680
Enrollment
90
Registered
2010-01-27
Start date
2010-01-31
Completion date
2012-02-29
Last updated
2012-12-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Osteoporosis, Sarcopenia

Keywords

Bone, Muscle, Strength, Kidney, Liver, Creatine

Brief summary

As we age, we experience a reduction in muscle and bone which inevitably decreases strength and the ability to perform tasks of daily living such as gardening, carrying groceries, and climbing stairs. Health costs associated with aging muscle and bone loss are in the billions of dollars. With the projected increase in life expectancy, the incidence of muscle and bone loss will rise and further drain the healthcare system, with greater need for hospitalization, treatment, and rehabilitation. Without effective strategies to counteract aging muscle and bone loss, we may face a healthcare crisis in the future. Creatine, a compound found in red meat and seafood, increases creatine phosphate stores in muscle, providing increased energy during high-intensity exercise. Short-term (i.e. 3-4 months) resistance-exercise and supplementation with creatine, have been shown to have a favorable effect on properties of aging muscle and bone. However, the longer-term (i.e. 1 year) effects of these interventions are unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this innovative research is to determine the longer-term effects of resistance-exercise and creatine supplementation (0.1g•kg-1) in older adults. The primary dependent variables to be assessed will include muscle hypertrophy, bone mineral and bone geometry, strength, and urinary and blood indicators of liver and kidney function. This innovative, multidisciplinary research will help contribute to the successful pursuit of prolonged independent living by improving aging musculoskeletal health for older Saskatchewan adults. Saskatchewan provides a relevant setting for this research, given the higher percentage of older adults (15%), compared to the national average (12%). We hypothesize that creatine supplementation will increase muscle mass, strength, and bone mineral density more than placebo.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTcreatine monohydrate

Powder, 0.1 g per day, 12 months

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTsugar placebo

powder, 0.1 g/day, 12 months

Sponsors

University of Saskatchewan
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* greater than or equal to 50 years of age * males or postmenopausal females * not currently participating in resistance training

Exclusion criteria

* pre-existing kidney abnormalities * previous fragility fractures * history of taking medications that affect bone mineral density in the past year including bisphosphonates, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, hormone replacement therapy, or corticosteroids (i.e. within the past year) * suffer from severe osteoarthritis * have taken creatine supplementation within the past 6 months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Lumbar spine bone mineral densityBaseline and 12 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Whole body bone mineral densitybaseline and 12 months
lean tissue massbaseline and 12 months
Muscular strengthbaseline and 12 months
Muscle thicknessbaseline and 12 months
Proximal femur bone mineral densityBaseline and 12 months
bone geometrybaseline and 12 months
Complete blood countbaseline, 4 months, 8 months, 12 months
Liver enzymesbaseline, 4 months, 8 months, 12 months
kidney function (creatinine clearance)baseline, 4 months, 8 months, 12 months
Bone speed of soundBaseline and 12 months

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026