Creatine Supplementation (3 g/d) and Bone Health in Older Women: A 2-Year, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. (29th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sales, Lucas Peixoto; Pinto, Ana Jéssica; Rodrigues, Samara Ferrari; Alvarenga, Jackeline Couto; Gonçalves, Natalia; Sampaio-Barros, Marília M; Benatti, Fabiana Braga; Gualano, Bruno; Rodrigues Pereira, Rosa Maria
• Editors: Newman, Anne
• Is Part Of: Journals of gerontology. Volume 75:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 931
• Page End: 938
• Publication Date: 2019-06-29
• Subjects: Postmenopausal -- Nutrition -- Bone mass -- Muscle function -- Creatine; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1079-5006

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Creatine supplementation could be a nonexpensive, safe, and effective dietary intervention to counteract bone loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether long-term creatine supplementation can improve bone health in older, postmenopausal women. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized trial was conducted between November 2011 and December 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two hundred postmenopausal women with osteopenia were randomly allocated to receive either creatine monohydrate (3 g/d) or placebo for 2 years. At baseline and after 12 and 24 months, we assessed areal bone mineral density (aBMD; primary outcome), lean and fat mass (through dual X-ray absorptiometry), volumetric BMD and bone microarchitecture parameters, biochemical bone markers, physical function and strength, and the number of falls and fractures. Possible adverse effects were self-reported. Results: Lumbar spine ( p < .001), femoral neck ( p < .001), and total femur aBMD ( p = .032) decreased across time; however, no interaction effect was observed (all p > .050). Bone markers, microarchitecture parameters, and the number of falls/fractures were not changed with creatine (all p > .050). Lean mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass increased throughout the intervention ( p < .001), with no additive effect of creatine ( p = .731 and p = .397, respectively). Creatine did not affect health-related laboratory parameters. Conclusion: Creatine supplementation more than 2 years did not improve bone health in older, postmenopausal women with osteopenia, nor did it affect lean mass or muscle function in this population. This refutes the long-lasting notion that this dietary supplement alone has osteogenic or anabolic properties in the long run. Clinical trial registry: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT: 01472393.