Creatine supplementation in young men under resistance versus non-resistance training: a systematic review and meta-analysis of strength, performance, and lean mass.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 42027564 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1800546
What was done
Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of 39 randomized controlled trials evaluating creatine supplementation in healthy men aged 18 to 30 years. The primary comparison evaluated resistance training versus non-resistance training conditions. Outcomes included fat-free mass, lean body mass, Wingate peak and mean power, countermovement jump, and 1RM strength. Subgroup analyses evaluated training condition and intervention duration.
What was found
Under resistance training, creatine supplementation led to significant increases in fat-free mass (+3.39 kg) and lean body mass (+2.70 kg), with no significant gains under non-resistance training conditions. Wingate peak power (+71.27 W) and mean power (+39.69 W) increased in both contexts with no modifying effect of training type. Countermovement jump improved by 2.87 cm with high heterogeneity (I2 = 88.5%). Interventions lasting at least 8 weeks showed more consistent effects. Specific numerical findings for 1RM strength were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
Creatine enhances anaerobic power across training types, but concurrent resistance training is necessary to gain lean body mass.
Limits
Total participant count, specific dosing regimens, and numerical outcomes for 1RM strength were not reported in the abstract. The population was restricted to young men aged 18 to 30 years, and countermovement jump results exhibited high statistical heterogeneity.