Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Muscle Mass and Function Among Older Women Subjected to Resistance Training
Condition: Muscle Weakness
MeSH terms: Muscle Weakness
Intervention: Resistance exercise training; Creatine
Intervention description: All participants will be subjected to resistance training of upper and lower limbs, using elastic bands and tubing and free weights. Training will be calibrated at 60% of one repetition maximum for each muscle group with three sets of 15 repetitions with one minute rest between each set. All exercises will be additionally calibrated to be of moderate intensity according to the Borg scale. The exercise load will be adapted according to the progression of each participant.; Creatine powder 5 g day
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Enrollment: 50.0
Sex: Female
Minimum age: 60 Years
Maximum age: 80 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Keywords: creatine; resistance training; older women; muscle strength

Summary:

      To determine, in a double blind trial, the effects of creatine supplementation during 12
      weeks on muscle mass and function of community living older women subjected to resistance
      training. Material and methods: Fifty healthy older women will be selected for the study. All
      participants will be subjected to a progressive resistance training program using elastic
      bands and weights, consisting in three sessions per week lasting 1 hour. Participant will be
      randomly allocated in a double blind fashion, to receive creatine 5 g per day or an identical
      placebo. The training and supplementation period will last 12 weeks. At baseline and at the
      end of the study, body composition will be measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry,
      rectus femoris cross sectional height and surface will be measured by ultrasound, quadriceps
      strength will be measured in a quadriceps table and 12 minutes' walk will be assessed. The
      main outcome measure will be quadriceps cross sectional height. Expected results: We expect
      that creatine supplementation will increase rectus femoris height over and above the effect
      of resistance training.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          1. Absence of a significant disability, defined as the capacity to reach the health
             center by their own means with the use of any aid such as canes or wheelchairs

          2. Absence of disabling diseases such as cardiac, respiratory, liver or kidney failure or
             active cancer

          3. Absence of decompensated diabetes mellitus of hypertension. Diabetic patients with
             repeated fasting blood glucose levels below 120 mg/dl and a glycosylated hemoglobin
             below 7% will be allowed to participate. Hypertensive patients in treatment with a
             blood pressure (measured in at least two occasions) below 140/90 mm Hg will also be
             allowed.

        Exclusion Criteria:

          1. Smoking or excessive consumption of alcohol

          2. Use of medications that can cause muscle dysfunction or limit exercise capacity such
             as adrenal steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, statins in high doses (ie more than 40
             mg/day of atorvastatin) or muscle relaxants.

          3. Having a severe osteoarticular disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or severe
             osteoarthritis, with precludes participating in an exercise training program.

          4. Recent use of ergogenic supplements such as creatine.

          5. Being engaged in an active exercise training program.

          6. Being illiterate or having a level of cognitive dysfunction that precludes the free
             signature of a written informed consent to participate in the study.

          7. Any personal or socioeconomic condition that, in opinion of the research team, will
             hamper the correct compliance of the participant with the research program.