Six-Week Supplementation with Creatine in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Feasibility Study at 3 Tesla.
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.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.