Creatine supplementation combined with breathing exercises reduces respiratory discomfort and improves creatine status in patients with long-COVID.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 38099612 · doi:10.4103/jpgm.jpgm_650_23
What was done
Eight patients with long-COVID and moderate fatigue lasting at least 3 months were recruited and allocated in a double-blind, parallel-group trial to receive either 4 g of creatine per day plus breathing exercises or breathing exercises alone for 3 months.
What was found
Creatine supplementation resulted in a significant increase in total tissue creatine levels across all 14 evaluated locations (P < 0.05), whereas levels significantly dropped in the right frontal gray matter and left parietal mesial gray matter at follow-up in the control group (P < 0.05). Time to exhaustion showed no significant change in controls (P > 0.05), but improved by a mean of 54 seconds in the creatine group (P = 0.05).
Why it matters
This pilot trial provides initial preliminary evidence that oral creatine supplementation may support tissue bioenergetics and functional endurance in patients with long-COVID fatigue.
Limits
The sample size is extremely small (n = 8 total), severely limiting statistical power and generalizability. Absolute baseline values, standard deviations, confidence intervals, and quantitative measures for respiratory discomfort were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports In a study of individuals with long COVID, 4 grams per day of creatine took three months to accumulate in the brain as measured by MRS.