Prevention of traumatic headache, dizziness and fatigue with creatine administration. A pilot study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial (open-label pilot)
PubMed 18053002 · doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00529.x
What was done
A prospective, randomized, open-label comparative pilot study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of daily oral creatine (0.4 g/kg suspension for 6 months) in 39 children and adolescents aged 1 to 18 years with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Categorical variables between cases and controls were compared using the Chi-square test.
What was found
Creatine administration improved the duration of post-traumatic amnesia, duration of intubation, and intensive care unit stay, though the abstract does not report numerical values or effect sizes for these parameters. Statistically significant improvements were reported for headache (p < 0.001), dizziness (p = 0.005), and fatigue (p < 0.001). No side effects were observed.
Why it matters
This pilot trial provides initial preliminary evidence that oral creatine supplementation may aid clinical recovery and reduce post-traumatic symptoms in pediatric brain injury.
Limits
The study is a small pilot trial (n = 39) with an open-label design that lacks a placebo control, creating high risk of bias for subjective symptom reporting. The abstract reports no numerical baseline data, group breakdowns, or exact durations, and lacks in vivo spectroscopic verification.
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.