Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training on Area and Density of Bone and Muscle in Older Adults

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy of creatine (Cr) supplementation and any sex differences during supervised whole-body resistance training (RT) on properties of bone and muscle in older adults. METHODS: Seventy participants (39 men, 31 women; mean age ± standard deviation: 58 ± 6 yr) were randomized to supplement with Cr (0.1 g·kg-1·d-1) or placebo (Pl) during RT (3 d·wk-1 for 1 yr). Bone geometry (radius and tibia) and muscle area and density (forearm and lower leg) were assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. RESULTS: Compared with Pl, Cr increased or maintained total bone area in the distal tibia (Cr, Δ +17 ± 27 mm2; Pl, Δ -1 ± 22 mm2; P = 0.031) and tibial shaft (Cr, Δ 0 ± 9 mm2; Pl, Δ -5 ± 7 mm2; P = 0.032). Men on Cr increased trabecular (Δ +28 ± 31 mm2; P 0.05). Cr increased lower leg muscle density (Δ +0.83 ± 1.15 mg·cm-3; P = 0.016) compared with Pl (Δ -0.16 ± 1.56 mg·cm-3), with no changes in the forearm muscle. CONCLUSIONS: One year of Cr supplementation and RT had some favorable effects on measures of bone area and muscle density in older adults.