The dietary supplement creatine, popular among body builders, might also benefit the elderly and patients weakened by muscle diseases. A new study in the journal Neurology suggests that taking very large doses of creatine daily seemed to increase the strength of patients' muscles by about 10 percent, reported CBS 2 News. But the Food and Drug Administration warns the study is far too small and too short to show if creatine offers lasting benefit or if high doses for long periods cause side effects, said the television station. One researcher also pointed out that doctors unsuccessfully tried similar studies with creatine in the 1950's. But according to The Associated Press, that effort looked for major results, not smaller benefits like improving muscle strength.
Creatine is an amino acid found naturally in healthy muscles.
It has become one of the biggest-selling dietary supplements and is used by some athletes.