Prevention of complications related to traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents with creatine administration: an open label randomized pilot study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 16917445 · doi:10.1097/01.ta.0000230269.46108.d5
What was done
A prospective, open-label randomized pilot trial evaluated the neuroprotective effects of oral creatine in 39 children and adolescents aged 1 to 18 years with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants in the intervention arm received 0.4 g/kg/day of creatine in an oral suspension daily for 6 months. Categorical outcomes between cases and controls were evaluated using the chi-square test.
What was found
Creatine administration was reported to improve duration of post-traumatic amnesia, intubation duration, intensive care unit stay, disability, recovery, locomotion, and sociability, though absolute numerical values were not reported in the abstract. Statistically significant improvements were observed in cognitive function (p < 0.001), personality/behavior (p < 0.001), self-care (p = 0.029), and communication (p = 0.018). No adverse effects were observed.
Why it matters
This trial provides early preliminary evidence that post-acute creatine supplementation may enhance functional and neurobehavioral recovery after pediatric brain injury.
Limits
The study is limited by a small sample size (n = 39) and an open-label design lacking placebo control or blinding, creating high risk for observer and reporting bias. Baseline injury severity, exact group numbers, and absolute effect sizes or confidence intervals are omitted from the abstract.
Cited by
- supports A clinical trial in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury administered creatine at a dose of 0.4 grams per kilogram per day.
- supports Studies in children have found that creatine supplementation after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) aids recovery.