Effects of creatine supplementation with and without exercise and diet intervention on body composition, cognitive function, and markers of health in middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND

Theoretically, CrM supplementation during a weight loss and exercise intervention may help older individuals promote more optimal changes in body composition, training adaptations, and cognition. To determine whether CrM affects body composition, cognitive function, and/or markers of health in untrained and trained middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

Seventy-three healthy sedentary adults selected whether to participate in a non-exercise or exercise and diet intervention and were then randomized, in a double-blind and counterbalanced manner, to 2 × 5 g/d of maltodextrin placebo (PLA) or CrM. Sixty-four adults aged 45-65 years (54.5 ± 6.2 years, 84.5 ± 21.3 kg; 40 females and 24 males) completed the 12-week intervention and were analyzed. At 0, 6, and 12 weeks, participants had DXA body composition determined, donated fasting blood samples, and completed a battery of cognitive tests and questionnaires. general linear models (GLMs), multivariate and univariate, with repeated measures and mean changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals, and Chi-squared analyzes were used.

RESULTS

CrM supplementation without exercise training and diet intervention increased lean tissue mass, strength, and muscular endurance while promoting favorable changes in selected blood lipids, HbA1c, and selected markers of cognitive function and memory. Creatine supplementation during an exercise and weight-loss diet intervention increased lean tissue mass, promoted a greater reduction in body fat percentage, and improved muscular strength, endurance, and selected markers of cognitive function and memory. Supplementation was well-tolerated.

CONCLUSION

CrM supplementation with and without exercise and diet intervention may help middle-aged and older adults maintain muscle mass and strength while favourably affecting selected markers of health and cognitive function. Individual cognitive and biomarker findings should be interpreted as exploratory. Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN83081058.