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

Author(s)

Sales, Lucas Peixoto ^[1] ; Pinto, Ana Jessica ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Samara Ferrari ^[1] ; Alvarenga, Jackeline Couto ^[1] ; Goncalves, Natalia ^[2] ; Sampaio-Barros, Marilia M. ^[1] ; Benatti, Fabiana Braga ^[3] ; Gualano, Bruno ^[1] ; Rodrigues Pereira, Rosa Maria ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Rheumatol Div, Ave Dr Arnaldo 455, 3 Andar, Sala 3192, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] RDO Diagnost Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Sch Appl Sci, Limeira - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES; v. 75, n. 5, p. 931-938, MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/26937-4 - Studies on physical (in)activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: characterization, associations with disease and effects of breaking up sedentary time
• Grantee: Ana Jéssica Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 15/14698-5 - Reference curves of bone parameters obtained by high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-PQCT) in healthy men
• Grantee: Jackeline Couto Alvarenga Amaral
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate