Effect of Creatine Supplementation Combined With Resistance Training on Whole Body Bone Mineral in Older Men

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of creatine supplementation combined with resistance training on bone mass of older men. Twenty-nine men were randomized to receive creatine supplementation (CR, n = 16, age = 70.4y) or placebo (PL, n = 13, age = 71.6y) using a double blind procedure. Cr supplementation consisted of 0.3 g/kg body weight for 5 days and 0.07 g/kg body weight thereafter. Both groups participated in whole-body resistance training (12 weeks, 3x/wk, 3 sets of 10 reps, 12 exercises). Bone mass was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. There was a time main effect for whole body bone mineral density, with each group increasing by 0.5% (p = 0.05). There was a group × time interaction for bone mineral content of the arms (p = 0.0005), with the Cr group increasing by 3.2% (p = 0.0009) and the PL group decreasing by 1.0% (not significant). We conclude that 12 weeks of resistance training increases whole body bone mineral density and that creatine supplementation provides a further increase in bone mineral content. This study was supported by MuscleTech Research and Development Inc.