Creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial, 2013, Alves et al

Creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

Christiano RR Alves, Bianca M Santiago, Fernanda R Lima, Maria CG Otaduy, Ana Luisa Calich, Aline CC Tritto, Ana Lúcia de Sá Pinto, Hamilton Roschel, Cláudia C Leite, Fabiana B Benatti, Eloisa Bonfá, Bruno Gualano

Objective
To investigate the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia patients.

Methods
A 16‐week, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group trial was conducted. Fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to receive either creatine monohydrate or placebo in a double‐blind manner. The patients were evaluated at baseline and after 16 weeks. Muscle function, aerobic conditioning, cognitive function, quality of sleep, quality of life, kidney function, and adverse events were assessed. Muscle phosphorylcreatine content was measured through 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Results
After the intervention, the creatine group presented higher muscle phosphorylcreatine content when compared with the placebo group (+80.3% versus −2.7%; P = 0.04). Furthermore, the creatine group presented greater muscle strength than the placebo group in the leg press and chest press exercises (+9.8% and +1.2% for creatine versus −0.5% and −7.2% for placebo, respectively; P = 0.02 and P = 0.002, respectively). Isometric strength was greater in the creatine group than in the placebo group (+6.4% versus −3.2%; P = 0.007). However, no general changes were observed in aerobic conditioning, pain, cognitive function, quality of sleep, and quality of life. Food intake remained unaltered and no side effects were reported.

Conclusion
Creatine supplementation increased intramuscular phosphorylcreatine content and improved lower‐ and upper‐body muscle function, with minor changes in other fibromyalgia features. These findings introduce creatine supplementation as a useful dietary intervention to improve muscle function in fibromyalgia patients.

Link (Arthritis Care and Research) [Open Access]

 

Interesting.

Based on n=15 ingesting the creatine phosphate.

Dietary recall of last 24 hrs used; that could be inaccurate.

Has this type of study been replicated with similar results?

Also, buying supplements in the USA, unless you subscribe to a lab service which analyzes this particular compound, the supplements may/may not contain the labeled amounts and/or contain potential contaminants, or even noxious substances. There is no FDA approval process for supplements.

Pubmed search revealed a plethora of articles about creatine supplements. In 2020, some research that creatine useful in cancer treatment, another out of China found that creatine aided cancer metastasis.