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Meta-Analysis Examining the Importance of Creatine Ingestion Strategies on Lean Tissue Mass and Strength in Older Adults.

Nutrients
January 1, 1970
Scott C Forbes et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation combined with resistance training on lean tissue mass and strength in aging adults, comparing different dosing strategies and timing of ingestion.

Results Summary

Creatine supplementation, regardless of dosing strategy, enhanced lean tissue mass and strength gains from resistance training compared to placebo. Higher-dose creatine (>5 g/day) improved leg press strength, while lower-dose creatine (≤5 g/day) with a loading phase increased chest press strength. Supplementing only on training days also boosted lean tissue mass and strength.

Population

Aging adults

Effective Dosage

Lower dose: ≤5 g/day; higher dose: >5 g/day; loading phase: ≥20 g/day for 5-7 days

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Creatine supplementation in conjunction with resistance training (RT)
increase
lean tissue mass and strength
aging adults
-
augments gains
#1
creatine (independent of dosing strategy)
increase
lean tissue mass and strength increase from RT
-
-
augments
#2
creatine-loading followed by lower-dose creatine (≤5 g/day)
increase
chest press strength
-
-
increased
#3
Higher-dose creatine (>5 g/day), with and without a creatine-loading phase
increase
leg press strength
-
-
produced significant gains
#4
creatine
no change
chest press or leg press strength
-
-
had no greater effect
#5
creatine supplementation only on resistance training days
increase
measures of lean tissue mass and strength
-
-
significantly increased
#6
Abstract

Creatine supplementation in conjunction with resistance training (RT) augments gains in lean tissue mass and strength in aging adults; however, there is a large amount of heterogeneity between individual studies that may be related to creatine ingestion strategies. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to (1) perform updated meta-analyses comparing creatine vs. placebo (independent of dosage and frequency of ingestion) during a resistance training program on measures of lean tissue mass and strength, (2) perform meta-analyses examining the effects of different creatine dosing strategies (lower: ≤5 g/day and higher: >5 g/day), with and without a creatine-loading phase (≥20 g/day for 5-7 days), and (3) perform meta-analyses determining whether creatine supplementation only on resistance training days influences measures of lean tissue mass and strength. Overall, creatine (independent of dosing strategy) augments lean tissue mass and strength increase from RT vs. placebo. Subanalyses showed that creatine-loading followed by lower-dose creatine (≤5 g/day) increased chest press strength vs. placebo. Higher-dose creatine (>5 g/day), with and without a creatine-loading phase, produced significant gains in leg press strength vs. placebo. However, when studies involving a creatine-loading phase were excluded from the analyses, creatine had no greater effect on chest press or leg press strength vs. placebo. Finally, creatine supplementation only on resistance training days significantly increased measures of lean tissue mass and strength vs. placebo.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedAgingCreatineDietary SupplementsEatingFood, FortifiedHumansMuscle StrengthMuscle, SkeletalResistance TrainingWeight Lifting
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations41
Citations/Year10.3
Relative Citation Ratio5.22
NIH Percentile93.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.97
Normalized Score0.72
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