Effect of pre-exercise and post-exercise creatine supplementation on bone mineral content and density in healthy aging adults

Exp Gerontol. 2019 May:119:89-92. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.01.025. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Abstract

Creatine supplementation, immediately before and immediately following resistance training, has been shown to increase muscle mass and strength. However, the effects of pre- exercise and post-exercise creatine supplementation on aging bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) is unknown. Using a double-blind, repeated measures design, aging adults were randomized to one of three groups: creatine before (CR-B: n = 15; 53 ± 3 years, 170.1 ± 9.9 77.1 ± 15.6 kg; 0.1 g·kg-1 creatine immediately before resistance training and 0.1 g·kg-1 cornstarch maltodextrin immediately after resistance training), creatine after (CR-A: n = 12; 55 ± 4 years, 173.4 ± 8.3 cm, 87.9 ± 20.1 kg; 0.1 g·kg-1 cornstarch maltodextrin immediately before resistance training and 0.1 g·kg-1 of creatine immediately after resistance training), or placebo (PLA: n = 12; 57 ± 7 years, 170.5 ± 10.8 cm, 77.9 ± 11.8 kg; 0.1 g·kg-1 cornstarch maltodextrin before and after resistance training). Whole-body resistance training was performed 3 days/week for 8 months. Prior to and following training and supplementation, BMC and BMD of the whole-body, limbs, femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total hip were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. There was a time main effect (p = 0.037) for femoral neck BMD (CR-B; absolute change: -0.011 g/cm2, 95% CI [-0.028, 0.006], CR-A: absolute change: -0.014 g/cm2, 95% CI [-0.031, 0.003], PLA: absolute change: -0.006 g/cm2, 95% CI [-0.002, 0.010]), with no other differences. Creatine supplementation, independent of the timing of ingestion, has no effect on aging bone mineral content or density.

Keywords: Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; Resistance training; Timing; Total hip.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism
  • Bone Density / drug effects*
  • Bone Density / physiology*
  • Creatine / administration & dosage*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Female
  • Healthy Aging / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoporosis / metabolism
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control
  • Resistance Training

Substances

  • Creatine