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Six-Week Supplementation with Creatine in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Feasibility Study at 3 Tesla.

Nutrients
September 30, 2024
Beata R Godlewska et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether creatine supplementation could improve brain creatine levels, fatigue, cognition, and hand-grip strength in ME/CFS patients.

Results Summary

Creatine supplementation increased brain creatine concentrations, reduced fatigue, improved reaction time in cognitive tests, and enhanced hand-grip strength. The treatment was well-tolerated with no participants discontinuing.

Population

Fourteen participants with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Effective Dosage

16 g creatine monohydrate daily.

Duration

6 weeks.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Creatine supplementation
increase
creatine concentration in the pgACC
participants with ME/CFS
-
increased
#1
Creatine supplementation
increase
creatine concentration in the DLPFC
participants with ME/CFS
-
increased
#2
Creatine supplementation
decrease
fatigue
participants with ME/CFS
-
decreased
#3
Creatine supplementation
decrease
reaction time on congruent trials of the Stroop test
participants with ME/CFS
-
decreased
#4
Creatine supplementation
decrease
reaction time on incongruent trials of the Stroop test
participants with ME/CFS
-
decreased
#5
Creatine supplementation
increase
hand-grip strength
participants with ME/CFS
-
increased
#6
Creatine supplementation
no change
treatment tolerance
participants with ME/CFS
-
was well tolerated
#7
Creatine supplementation
increase
brain creatine
ME/CFS patients
-
increased
#8
Creatine supplementation
decrease
fatigue
ME/CFS patients
-
improved
#9
Creatine supplementation
increase
some aspects of cognition
ME/CFS patients
-
improved
#10
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic medical condition with no specific pharmacological treatment. Creatine, a nutrient essential for maintaining energy homeostasis in the cells, is a candidate for interventions in ME/CFS. METHODS: Fourteen participants with ME/CFS received supplementation with 16 g creatine monohydrate for 6 weeks. Before starting creatine and on the last day of treatment, participants underwent brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) scanning of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), followed by symptom, cognition, and hand-grip strength assessments. RESULTS: Eleven participants completed the study. Creatine treatment increased creatine concentration in both the pgACC and DLPFC (p = 0.004 and 0.012, respectively), decreased fatigue and reaction time (RT) on congruent and incongruent trials of the Stroop test (p = 0.036 and 0.014, respectively), and increased hand-grip strength (p = 0.0004). There was a positive correlation between increases in pgACC creatine and changes in RT on Stroop congruent and incongruent trials (p = 0.048 and p = 0.022, respectively). Creatine was well tolerated, and none of the participants stopped treatment. CONCLUSION: Creatine supplementation over six weeks in ME/CFS patients increased brain creatine and improved fatigue and some aspects of cognition. Despite its methodological limitations, this study encourages placebo-controlled investigations of creatine treatment in ME/CFS.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansCreatineFatigue Syndrome, ChronicFemaleDietary SupplementsAdultFeasibility StudiesMaleMagnetic Resonance SpectroscopyMiddle AgedHand StrengthGyrus CinguliCognitionDorsolateral Prefrontal CortexReaction TimeTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety90
Efficacy75/10
Quality65/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.15
Normalized Score0.79
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