Creatine as a therapeutic strategy for myopathies.
Study Goal
The researchers were attempting to determine the effects of creatine supplementation, not Calcium, on muscle function in patients with various myopathies.
Results Summary
The study found that creatine supplementation showed modest benefits in strength and fat-free mass for muscular dystrophy patients, inconsistent effects for myotonic dystrophy, and limited benefits for McArdle's disease and MELAS syndrome patients. No significant side effects were reported.
Population
Patients with myopathies, including muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, McArdle's disease, and MELAS syndrome.
Effective Dosage
~0.075-0.1 g/kg/day of creatine monohydrate.
Duration
Several months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine monohydrate supplementation | increase | strength | Patients with muscular dystrophy | ~9% | respond with greater strength | #1 |
creatine monohydrate supplementation | increase | fat-free mass | Patients with muscular dystrophy | ~0.63 kg | respond with greater fat-free mass | #2 |
creatine monohydrate supplementation | no change | - | Patients with myotonic dystrophy | - | do not show as consistent an effect | #3 |
creatine monohydrate supplementation | increase | - | McArdle's disease patients | - | shows modest benefits only at lower doses | #4 |
creatine monohydrate supplementation | increase | cramping | McArdle's disease patients | - | possibly negative effects (cramping) at higher doses | #5 |
creatine supplementation | increase | exercise capacity | Patients with MELAS syndrome | - | show some evidence of benefit in exercise capacity | #6 |
creatine supplementation | no change | - | patients with CPEO | - | effects being less robust | #7 |
creatine supplementation | no change | side effects or negative impact upon serological metrics | all groups of myopathy patients | - | evidence for side effects or negative impact upon serological metrics is almost non-existent | #8 |
Myopathies are genetic or acquired disorders of skeletal muscle that lead to varying degrees of weakness, atrophy, and exercise intolerance. In theory, creatine supplementation could have a number of beneficial effects that could enhance function in myopathy patients, including muscle mass, strength and endurance enhancement, lower calcium levels, anti-oxidant effects, and reduced apoptosis. Patients with muscular dystrophy respond to several months of creatine monohydrate supplementation (~0.075-0.1 g/kg/day) with greater strength (~9%) and fat-free mass (~0.63 kg). Patients with myotonic dystrophy do not show as consistent an effect, possibly due to creatine transport issues. Creatine monohydrate supplementation shows modest benefits only at lower doses and possibly negative effects (cramping) at higher doses in McArdle's disease patients. Patients with MELAS syndrome show some evidence of benefit from creatine supplementation in exercise capacity, with the effects in patients with CPEO being less robust, again, possibly due to limited muscle creatine uptake. The evidence for side effects or negative impact upon serological metrics from creatine supplementation in all groups of myopathy patients is almost non-existent and pale in comparison to the very substantial and well-known side effects from our current chemotherapeutic interventions for some myopathies (i.e., corticosteroids).