Creatine supplementation during resistance training in older adults-a meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether creatine supplementation combined with resistance training (RT) enhances muscle mass, strength, and functional performance in older adults compared to RT alone.
Results Summary
Cr + RT significantly increased total body mass, fat-free mass, chest press and leg press strength, and performance in the 30-second chair stand test compared to RT alone, but had no effect on fat mass, knee extension, biceps curl strength, or isokinetic/isometric torque.
Population
Older adults (average age ~64 years)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12.6 ± 4.9 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Resistance training (RT) | increase | muscle mass and strength | older adults | - | increases | #1 |
Cr + RT | increase | total body mass | older adults | P = 0.004 | increased | #2 |
Cr + RT | increase | fat-free mass | older adults | P < 0.0001 | increased | #3 |
Cr + RT | no change | fat mass | older adults | - | had no effect on | #4 |
Cr + RT | increase | chest press one-repetition maximum | older adults | P = 0.004 | increased | #5 |
Cr + RT | increase | leg press one-repetition maximum | older adults | P = 0.02 | increased | #6 |
Cr + RT | no change | knee extension one-repetition maximum | older adults | - | had no difference in the effect on | #7 |
Cr + RT | no change | biceps curl one-repetition maximum | older adults | - | had no difference in the effect on | #8 |
Cr + RT | no change | isokinetic knee extension peak torque | older adults | - | had no difference in the effect on | #9 |
Cr + RT | no change | isometric knee extension peak torque | older adults | - | had no difference in the effect on | #10 |
Cr + RT | increase | the 30-s chair stand test | older adults | P = 0.03 | had a greater effect than RT alone on | #11 |
INTRODUCTION: Age-related sarcopenia and dynapenia have negative effects on strength and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Resistance training (RT) increases muscle mass and strength in older adults and is an established countermeasure for sarcopenia and dynapenia, and creatine may enhance this effect. We aimed to determine whether the addition of Cr to RT increased gains in muscle mass, strength, and function in older adults over RT alone by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed and Healthstar databases were searched. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials that involved older adults supplemented with Cr and included RT regimens (>6 wk) were included. Data were analyzed using fixed or random (if data were heterogeneous) effects meta-analysis using RevMan 5. RESULTS: The meta-analysis comprised 357 older adults (average ± SD Cr: 63.6 ± 5.9 yr, Pl: 64.2 ± 5.4 yr) with 12.6 ± 4.9 wk of RT. Cr + RT increased total body mass (P = 0.004) and fat-free mass (P < 0.0001) with no effect on fat mass as compared with RT alone. Cr + RT increased chest press (P = 0.004) and leg press (P = 0.02) one-repetition maximum to a greater extent than RT alone, with no difference in the effect on knee extension or biceps curl one-repetition maximum, isokinetic or isometric knee extension peak torque. Cr + RT had a greater effect than RT alone on the 30-s chair stand test (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Retention of muscle mass and strength is integral to healthy aging. The results from this meta-analysis are encouraging in supporting a role for Cr supplementation during RT in healthful aging by enhancing muscle mass gain, strength, and functional performance over RT alone; however, the limited number of studies indicates further work is needed.