Creatine monohydrate is widely used to enhance the response to exercise training, purportedly by increasing intracellular phosphocreatine (PCr), which is a major energy source during short-term, high-intensity exercise.

In the current study conducted at UC San Francisco, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Thessaly, Greece, researchers aimed to determine whether creatine supplementation augments the benefits derived from resistance exercise training (RT) and improves mitochondrial energy metabolism in patients with HIV infection.

Forty HIV-positive men were randomized in 1:1 fashion to receive creatine monohydrate or placebo. Subjects received a loading dose of 20 g/day for 5 days, followed by a maintenance dose of 4.8 g/day or matching placebo, in repeated 6-week cycles.

After the first 2 weeks, all subjects underwent a 12-week program of supervised progressive RT three times weekly. The primary outcome was change in muscle strength.

Results

• Thirty three subjects (17 creatine, 16 placebo) completed the 14-week study.
• Lean body mass (LBM) increased significantly in both groups and, by week 14, the increase was greater in the creatine group.
• Thigh muscle CSA also increased in both groups, but the difference between groups was not statistically significant.
• Strength increased robustly in all muscle groups but this increase in strength was not augmented by creatine supplementation.
• Likewise, there were no differences between groups in changes in intracellular metabolites in response to both single and repeated MVCs or in resistance to fatigue.

In conclusion, the authors write, “Resistance exercise training improved muscle size and strength in HIV-infected men. Although creatine supplementation increased LBM, it failed to augment the increase in strength derived from resistance exercise training.”

12/09/05

Reference
G K Sakkas and others. Creatine supplementation fails to augment the benefits derived from resistance exercise training in patients with HIV infection. Abstract 6. 7th International Workshop on Adverse Drug Reactions and Lipodystrophy in HIV. November 13-16, 2005, Dublin, Ireland. Antiviral Therapy 2005; 10:L6.