Current Evidence and Possible Future Applications of Creatine Supplementation for Older Adults.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation, with and without resistance training, on muscle and bone properties in older adults and justify future research in populations with sarcopenia-related conditions.
Results Summary
The study found that creatine supplementation, especially when combined with resistance training, has favorable effects on muscle, bone, and fat mass, as well as strength and physical performance in healthy older adults, but research is limited in populations with sarcopenia or related conditions.
Population
Older adults, particularly those with sarcopenia, osteoporosis, osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, or cachexia.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine supplementation (CR) | increase | aging muscle, bone and fat mass, muscle and bone strength, and tasks of physical performance | healthy older adults | - | has favourable effects | #1 |
creatine supplementation (CR) combined with resistance training (RT) | increase | aging muscle, bone and fat mass, muscle and bone strength, and tasks of physical performance | healthy older adults | - | has favourable effects | #2 |
Sarcopenia, defined as age-related reduction in muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, is associated with other age-related health conditions such as osteoporosis, osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, and cachexia. From a healthy aging perspective, lifestyle interventions that may help overcome characteristics and associated comorbidities of sarcopenia are clinically important. One possible intervention is creatine supplementation (CR). Accumulating research over the past few decades shows that CR, primarily when combined with resistance training (RT), has favourable effects on aging muscle, bone and fat mass, muscle and bone strength, and tasks of physical performance in healthy older adults. However, research is very limited regarding the efficacy of CR in older adults with sarcopenia or osteoporosis and no research exists in older adults with osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, or cachexia. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is (1) to evaluate and summarize current research involving CR, with and without RT, on properties of muscle and bone in older adults and (2) to provide a rationale and justification for future research involving CR in older adults with osteosarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, physical frailty, or cachexia.