Effect of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Macro- and Microvascular Endothelial Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized, double-blind crossover pilot trial
PubMed 39796490 · doi:10.3390/nu17010058
What was done
A double-blind, randomized crossover pilot trial evaluated the effect of four weeks of creatine monohydrate (CrM) versus placebo on vascular endothelial function in 12 sedentary, healthy older adults. Dosing consisted of a loading phase (4 × 5 g/day for 5 days) followed by maintenance (1 × 5 g/day for 23 days), separated by a four-week washout period. Assessed outcomes included macrovascular function (brachial flow-mediated dilation [FMD%], normalized FMD%, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV], pulse wave analysis [PWA]), microvascular function (microvascular reperfusion rate [% StO2/sec]), and circulating biomarkers (tetrahydrobiopterin [BH4], malondialdehyde [MDA], oxidized LDL [oxLDL], fasting glucose, and lipid panel).
What was found
CrM supplementation resulted in: - Increased FMD% compared to placebo: pre-CrM 7.68 ± 2.25% vs. post-CrM 8.9 ± 1.99% (p < 0.005). - Increased normalized FMD% compared to placebo: pre-CrM 2.57 × 10⁻⁴ ± 1.03 × 10⁻⁴ vs. post-CrM 3.42 × 10⁻⁴ ± 1.69 × 10⁻⁴ %/AUC_SR (p < 0.05). - Increased microvascular reperfusion rate: pre-CrM 2.29 ± 1.42%/sec vs. post-CrM 3.71 ± 1.44%/sec (p < 0.05), with no change following placebo. - Decreased fasting glucose: pre-CrM 103.64 ± 6.28 vs. post-CrM 99 ± 4.9 mg/dL (p < 0.05). - Decreased triglycerides: pre-CrM 99.82 ± 35.35 vs. post-CrM 83.82 ± 37.65 mg/dL (p < 0.05). No significant differences occurred in baPWV, PWA, BH4, MDA, oxLDL, or other lipid markers.
Why it matters
This pilot study suggests that short-term creatine monohydrate supplementation can improve endothelial macro- and microvascular reactivity and modestly lower fasting glucose and triglycerides in older adults.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 12) and restricted to healthy, sedentary older individuals. The four-week intervention period cannot establish long-term vascular efficacy or clinical cardiovascular risk reduction, and several measured mechanistic biomarkers (BH4, MDA, oxLDL) and arterial stiffness parameters showed no change.
Cited by
- supports Studies by researchers including Eric Rawson and Mike Ormsbee showed creatine supplementation improved macro- and microvascular function in older adults.