Effect of creatine supplementation as a potential adjuvant therapy to exercise training in cardiac patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether oral creatine supplementation combined with resistance and aerobic training improves physical fitness and health-related quality of life in cardiac patients compared to exercise alone.
Results Summary
The study found no additional benefits of creatine supplementation over exercise alone in improving aerobic power, muscle performance, quality of life, or lipid profile in cardiac patients. No adverse effects on renal or liver function were reported.
Population
70 cardiac patients (4 women, mean age 57.5 years) with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure.
Effective Dosage
Not specified in the abstract.
Duration
3 months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
oral creatine supplementation in conjunction with an exercise programme | no change | physical performance | patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure | - | does not exert any additional effect on the improvement | #1 |
oral creatine supplementation in conjunction with an exercise programme | no change | health related quality of life | patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure | - | does not exert any additional effect on the improvement | #2 |
oral creatine supplementation in conjunction with an exercise programme | no change | lipid profile | patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure | - | does not exert any additional effect on the improvement | #3 |
oral creatine supplementation | no change | renal function | patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure | - | no detrimental effect | #4 |
oral creatine supplementation | no change | liver function | patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure | - | no detrimental effect | #5 |
oral creatine supplementation | no change | side effects | patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure | - | no reports | #6 |
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of oral creatine supplementation in conjunction with an exercise programme on physical fitness in patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure. DESIGN: Single centre double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Cardiac rehabilitation centre. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTION: 70 (4 women) cardiac patients (age 57.5 (8.4) years) were randomized to a placebo (n = 37) or creatine (n = 33) treatment for three months. Combined aerobic endurance and resistance training (three sessions/ week) was performed during supplementation. MAIN MEASURES: Aerobic power was determined during graded bicycle testing, knee extensor peak isometric and isokinetic strength, endurance and recovery were assessed by an isokinetic dynamometer, and health related quality of life was evaluated with the SF-36 and MacNew Heart Disease questionnaires. In addition, blood samples were taken after an overnight fast and 24 hour urinary collection was performed. RESULTS: At baseline there were no significant differences between both groups. We observed main time effects for aerobic power, muscle performance, health related quality of life, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides (pre vs post; P<0.05 for all). However, changes after training were similar between placebo group and creatine group (P>0.05). Further, no detrimental effect on renal or liver function was observed nor were there any reports of side effects. CONCLUSION: Oral creatine supplementation in combination with exercise training does not exert any additional effect on the improvement in physical performance, health related quality of life, lipid profile in patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure than exercise training alone.