Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training on Area and Density of Bone and Muscle in Older Adults.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy of creatine (Cr) supplementation and any sex differences during supervised whole-body resistance training (RT) on properties of bone and muscle in older adults. METHODS: Seventy participants (39 men, 31 women; mean age +/- standard deviation: 58 +/- 6 yr) were randomized to supplement with Cr (0.1 g.kg-1.d-1) or placebo (Pl) during RT (3 d.wk-1 for 1 yr). Bone geometry (radius and tibia) and muscle area and density (forearm and lower leg) were assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. RESULTS: Compared with Pl, Cr increased or maintained total bone area in the distal tibia (Cr, Delta +17 +/- 27 mm2; Pl, Delta -1 +/- 22 mm2; P = 0.031) and tibial shaft (Cr, Delta 0 +/- 9 mm2; Pl, Delta -5 +/- 7 mm2; P = 0.032). Men on Cr increased trabecular (Delta +28 +/- 31 mm2; P < 0.001) and cortical bone areas in the tibia (Delta +4 +/- 4 mm2; P < 0.05), whereas men on Pl increased trabecular bone density (Delta +2 +/- 2 mg.cm-3; P 0.05). Cr increased lower leg muscle density (Delta +0.83 +/- 1.15 mg.cm-3; P = 0.016) compared with Pl (Delta -0.16 +/- 1.56 mg.cm-3), with no changes in the forearm muscle. CONCLUSIONS: One year of Cr supplementation and RT had some favorable effects on measures of bone area and muscle density in older adults.