Creatine Loading Does Not Preserve Muscle Mass or Strength During Leg Immobilization in Healthy, Young Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether creatine loading could reduce muscle mass and strength loss during short-term leg immobilization.
Results Summary
Creatine supplementation increased muscle total creatine content but did not prevent or attenuate the loss of muscle mass or strength during immobilization.
Population
Healthy young men (n=30; aged 23±1 years; BMI 23.3±0.5 kg/m²).
Effective Dosage
Not specified in the abstract.
Duration
5-day loading phase followed by immobilization period (duration not specified in abstract).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Creatine supplementation | increase | lean body mass | active individuals | - | has been shown to increase | #1 |
Creatine supplementation | increase | muscle mass and strength | - | - | can be used to augment gains in | #2 |
Creatine loading | decrease | muscle mass or strength | healthy young men | - | does not prevent or attenuate the loss of | #3 |
Creatine supplementation | decrease | muscle mass or strength | - | - | does not prevent or attenuate the loss of | #4 |
BACKGROUND: A short period of leg immobilization leads to rapid loss of muscle mass and strength. Creatine supplementation has been shown to increase lean body mass in active individuals and can be used to augment gains in muscle mass and strength during prolonged resistance-type exercise training. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate whether creatine loading can attenuate the loss of muscle mass and strength during short-term leg immobilization. METHODS: Healthy young men (n = 30; aged 23 ± 1 years; body mass index [BMI] 23.3 ± 0.5 kg/m RESULTS: There was a significant overall increase in muscle total creatine content following the 5-day loading phase (p = 0.049), which appeared driven by an increase in the creatine group (from 90 ± 9 to 107 ± 4 mmol/kg CONCLUSION: Creatine supplementation prior to and during leg immobilization does not prevent or attenuate the loss of muscle mass or strength during short-term muscle disuse. NIH Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT01894737 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ ).