A Summary of a Creatine Clinical Study by Amiri et al. (2023)

Reviewed by John Cutts, PhD | Research & Development

Overview

The following summary reviews clinical research examining resistance training combined with creatine monohydrate supplementation in the context of oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, muscle strength, and quality of life in older adults.

Summary

The role of resistance training and creatine supplementation on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, muscle strength, and quality of life in older adults

Published in: Frontiers in Public Health

Study Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with three parallel arms

Participants: 45 non-athlete older men and women (mean age 68.1 ± 7.2 years), randomly assigned to three groups of 15: resistance training plus creatine supplementation, resistance training plus placebo, or a no-intervention control group

Dose: 0.1 g/kg body weight per day, consumed once daily dissolved in water immediately following each exercise session, or at the same hour on non-training days; the placebo group consumed an equivalent amount of maltodextrin

Outcome Measures: Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatinine, and body mass index (BMI); muscle strength assessed via one-repetition maximum (1-RM) using the Brzycki equation across seven resistance movements; quality of life assessed via the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire

What Was Studied: Researchers examined whether a 10-week structured resistance training program, performed three sessions per week at 75% of 1-RM, would affect serum markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in older adults, and whether daily creatine monohydrate supplementation would produce additional effects beyond training alone. The study also assessed the impact of the interventions on maximal muscle strength across seven exercise movements and on overall quality of life as measured by the SF-36. Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting at baseline and 48 hours following the final training session, and were analyzed for lipid peroxidation, DNA oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activity, and total antioxidant capacity using commercial ELISA kits.

About the Reviewer

Name & Title: John Cutts, Director of Research at Solaray
Credentials: PhD Pharmacology & Toxicology

Bio: John Cutts, Ph.D. earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from BYU-Idaho. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the dietary supplement space, with a focus on scientific substantiation, regulatory affairs, and product development. His graduate research centered on the health-related properties of botanical compounds. He currently works in research and development, where he evaluates clinical evidence for dietary supplement ingredients.

Reference

Amiri E, Sheikholeslami-Vatani D. The role of resistance training and creatine supplementation on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, muscle strength, and quality of life in older adults. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1062832. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37206869/

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a study “double-blind”?

In double-blind studies, participants and researchers are
both unaware of which participants are in the group taking the active
investigational product and which are part of a control group.

What makes a study “placebo-controlled”?

When studies are placebo-controlled one group takes an active
investigational product and the other group takes an inactive product that has
the same general appearances as the active treatment.

What is a placebo?

Placebos are inactive treatments. Researchers include placebos that have the same general characteristics as an active treatment.

They try to make them indistinguishable from the active treatment regarding
qualities like appearance, taste, and smell.

Why is statistical significance important?

Quality scientific studies look for more than just a numerical difference between treated groups and control groups. These studies also check mathematically for the possibility that any difference between groups might
happen by chance. A difference that is statistically significant is one where the change is not likely to be due to a chance fluctuation within a normal variance.

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