Beneficial effects of creatine supplementation in dystrophic patients.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized double-blind crossover trial
PubMed 12707981 · doi:10.1002/mus.10355
What was done
Fifteen boys (12 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 3 with Becker muscular dystrophy) participated in a randomized double-blind crossover trial comparing 3 g daily of oral creatine against maltodextrin placebo for 3 months each, separated by a 2-month washout period. Measured outcomes included maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), resistance to fatigue, total joint stiffness (TJS), bone mineral density, and urinary excretion of collagen type I cross-linking N-telopeptide.
What was found
Following placebo, MVC and resistance to fatigue showed no change, while TJS increased by approximately 25% (P < 0.05). Following creatine, MVC improved by 15% (P = 0.02), resistance to fatigue almost doubled (P < 0.001), and TJS showed no change. In the subset of non-wheelchair-dependent patients (n = 5), bone mineral density increased by 3% (P < 0.05) and urinary collagen type I cross-linking N-telopeptide excretion decreased to about one third (P < 0.001) after creatine. No adverse effects were observed.
Why it matters
Short-term creatine supplementation may provide symptomatic improvements in muscle strength, fatigue resistance, and bone turnover biomarkers in boys with dystrophinopathies.
Limits
The study was very small (n = 15 overall; n = 5 for bone mineral density analysis) and combined two distinct clinical phenotypes (Duchenne and Becker). Treatment duration was limited to 3 months, leaving long-term efficacy, functional disease course modification, and safety unmeasured.
Cited by
- supports Creatine supplementation provides clinical benefits in young boys with muscular dystrophy.