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

Abstract

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. 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. Compared with Pl, Cr increased or maintained total bone area in the distal tibia (Cr, Δ +17 ± 27 mm2; Pl, Δ -1 ± 22 mm2; P = 0.031) and tibial shaft (Cr, Δ 0 ± 9 mm2; Pl, Δ -5 ± 7 mm2; P = 0.032). Men on Cr increased trabecular (Δ +28 ± 31 mm2; P < 0.001) and cortical bone areas in the tibia (Δ +4 ± 4 mm2; P < 0.05), whereas men on Pl increased trabecular bone density (Δ +2 ± 2 mg·cm-3; P < 0.01). There were no bone changes in the radius (P > 0.05). Cr increased lower leg muscle density (Δ +0.83 ± 1.15 mg·cm-3; P = 0.016) compared with Pl (Δ -0.16 ± 1.56 mg·cm-3), with no changes in the forearm muscle. One year of Cr supplementation and RT had some favorable effects on measures of bone area and muscle density in older adults.