Use of creatine in the elderly and evidence for effects on cognitive function in young and old.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effects of creatine supplementation, both independently and combined with resistance training, on muscle mass, strength, fatigue resistance, and cognitive function in older adults.
Results Summary
The study found that creatine supplementation, with or without resistance training, increased lean body mass, muscle strength, fatigue resistance, and performance in activities of daily living in older adults. Additionally, creatine supplementation improved cognitive processing in cases of impairment due to aging or sleep deprivation.
Population
Older adults
Effective Dosage
20 g/day for 5 days or 2 g/day for 30 days
Duration
Short-term (5-30 days)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine ingestion (about 20 g/day for 5 days or about 2 g/day for 30 days) | increase | skeletal muscle creatine and phosphocreatine | - | - | results in increased | #1 |
creatine supplementation | increase | the performance of high-intensity exercise tasks | - | - | is enhanced | #2 |
creatine supplementation | increase | lean body mass | young adults | - | benefits | #3 |
creatine supplementation | increase | strength | young adults | - | benefits | #4 |
creatine supplementation | increase | fatigue resistance | young adults | - | benefits | #5 |
aging and reduced physical activity | decrease | muscle creatine | - | - | decreases | #6 |
aging and reduced physical activity | decrease | muscle mass | - | - | decreases | #7 |
aging and reduced physical activity | decrease | bone density | - | - | decreases | #8 |
aging and reduced physical activity | decrease | strength | - | - | decreases | #9 |
creatine ingestion | increase | these changes | - | - | may reverse | #10 |
creatine ingestion | increase | activities of daily living | - | - | improve | #11 |
short-term high-dose creatine supplementation, independent of exercise training | increase | body mass | older adults | - | increases | #12 |
short-term high-dose creatine supplementation, independent of exercise training | increase | fatigue resistance | older adults | - | enhances | #13 |
short-term high-dose creatine supplementation, independent of exercise training | increase | muscle strength | older adults | - | increases | #14 |
short-term high-dose creatine supplementation, independent of exercise training | increase | the performance of activities of daily living | older adults | - | improves | #15 |
concurrent creatine supplementation and resistance training | increase | lean body mass | older adults | - | increase | #16 |
concurrent creatine supplementation and resistance training | increase | fatigue resistance | older adults | - | enhance | #17 |
concurrent creatine supplementation and resistance training | increase | muscle strength | older adults | - | increase | #18 |
concurrent creatine supplementation and resistance training | increase | performance of activities of daily living | older adults | - | improve | #19 |
creatine supplementation plus resistance training | increase | bone mineral density | - | - | results in a greater increase | #20 |
Higher brain creatine | increase | neuropsychological performance | - | - | associated with improved | #21 |
creatine supplementation | increase | brain creatine and phosphocreatine | - | - | has been shown to increase | #22 |
creatine supplementation | increase | cognitive processing | - | - | can be improved | #23 |
The ingestion of the dietary supplement creatine (about 20 g/day for 5 days or about 2 g/day for 30 days) results in increased skeletal muscle creatine and phosphocreatine. Subsequently, the performance of high-intensity exercise tasks, which rely heavily on the creatine-phosphocreatine energy system, is enhanced. The well documented benefits of creatine supplementation in young adults, including increased lean body mass, increased strength, and enhanced fatigue resistance are particularly important to older adults. With aging and reduced physical activity, there are decreases in muscle creatine, muscle mass, bone density, and strength. However, there is evidence that creatine ingestion may reverse these changes, and subsequently improve activities of daily living. Several groups have demonstrated that in older adults, short-term high-dose creatine supplementation, independent of exercise training, increases body mass, enhances fatigue resistance, increases muscle strength, and improves the performance of activities of daily living. Similarly, in older adults, concurrent creatine supplementation and resistance training increase lean body mass, enhance fatigue resistance, increase muscle strength, and improve performance of activities of daily living to a greater extent than resistance training alone. Additionally, creatine supplementation plus resistance training results in a greater increase in bone mineral density than resistance training alone. Higher brain creatine is associated with improved neuropsychological performance, and recently, creatine supplementation has been shown to increase brain creatine and phosphocreatine. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that cognitive processing, that is either experimentally (following sleep deprivation) or naturally (due to aging) impaired, can be improved with creatine supplementation. Creatine is an inexpensive and safe dietary supplement that has both peripheral and central effects. The benefits afforded to older adults through creatine ingestion are substantial, can improve quality of life, and ultimately may reduce the disease burden associated with sarcopenia and cognitive dysfunction.