Guanidinoacetic acid versus creatine for improved brain and muscle creatine levels: a superiority pilot trial in healthy men

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016 Sep;41(9):1005-7. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0178. Epub 2016 Jun 13.

Abstract

In this randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, we evaluated whether 4-week supplementation with guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is superior to creatine in facilitating creatine levels in healthy men (n = 5). GAA (3.0 g/day) resulted in a more powerful rise (up to 16.2%) in tissue creatine levels in vastus medialis muscle, middle-cerebellar peduncle, and paracentral grey matter, as compared with creatine (P < 0.05). These results indicate that GAA as a preferred alternative to creatine for improved bioenergetics in energy-demanding tissues.

Keywords: Vastus medialis muscle; bioenergetics; bioénergétique; cerebellum; cervelet; homocysteine; homocystéine; muscle vaste interne.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Creatine / administration & dosage*
  • Creatine / adverse effects
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dietary Supplements* / adverse effects
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Glycine / administration & dosage
  • Glycine / adverse effects
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Homocysteine / blood
  • Humans
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / blood
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / etiology
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Middle Cerebellar Peduncle / metabolism*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances / administration & dosage*
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances / adverse effects
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quadriceps Muscle / metabolism*
  • Serbia
  • Up-Regulation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances
  • Homocysteine
  • glycocyamine
  • Creatine
  • Glycine

Supplementary concepts

  • Homocysteinemia