Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Catabolic Effects of Creatine Supplementation: A Brief Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to summarize the current literature on the anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects of creatine supplementation, particularly when combined with resistance training.
Results Summary
The study found that creatine supplementation, especially when paired with resistance training, significantly increases muscle mass and strength, improves bone biology, and exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties. It may also reduce muscle protein catabolism and bone resorption, particularly in males.
Population
Various research populations (primarily males in some findings).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine supplementation, primarily when combined with resistance training | increase | measures of muscle mass and performance (primarily strength) | - | - | significantly increases | #1 |
creatine supplementation | increase | measures of bone biology | - | - | may have favorable effects on | #2 |
creatine supplementation | neutral | - | - | - | has anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties | #3 |
creatine supplementation | decrease | markers of inflammation | - | - | has the ability to decrease | #4 |
creatine supplementation | decrease | cancerous tumor growth progression | - | - | possibly attenuate | #5 |
creatine supplementation | decrease | measures of muscle protein catabolism (primarily in males) | primarily in males | - | reduces | #6 |
creatine supplementation when combined with resistance training | decrease | bone resorption | - | - | reduces | #7 |
It is well established that creatine supplementation, primarily when combined with resistance training, significantly increases measures of muscle mass and performance (primarily strength). Emerging research also indicates that creatine supplementation may have favorable effects on measures of bone biology. These anabolic adaptations may be related to creatine influencing cellular hydration status, high-energy phosphate metabolism, growth factors, muscle protein kinetics, and the bone remodeling process. Accumulating research also suggests that creatine supplementation has anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties, which may help create a favorable environment for muscle and bone accretion and recovery from exercise. Creatine supplementation has the ability to decrease markers of inflammation and possibly attenuate cancerous tumor growth progression. From a musculoskeletal perspective, there is some evidence to show that creatine supplementation reduces measures of muscle protein catabolism (primarily in males) and bone resorption when combined with resistance training. The purpose of this brief review is to summarize the current body of literature examining the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects of creatine supplementation across various research populations.