title: A randomized, controlled trial of creatine monohydrate in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies.
abstract: Fatigue in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies is associated with decreased basal and postactivity muscle phosphocreatine (PCr). Creatine monohydrate supplementation has been shown to increase muscle PCr and high-intensity power output in healthy subjects. We studied the effects of creatine monohydrate administration (5 g PO b.i.d. x 14 days --> 2 g PO b.i.d. x 7 days) in 7 mitochondrial cytopathy patients using a randomized, crossover design. Measurements included: activities of daily living (visual analog scale); ischemic isometric handgrip strength (1 min); basal and postischemic exercise lactate; evoked and voluntary contraction strength of the dorsiflexors; nonischemic, isometric, dorsiflexion torque (NIDFT, 2 min); and aerobic cycle ergometry with pre- and post-lactate measurements. Creatine treatment resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) increased handgrip strength, NIDFT, and postexercise lactate, with no changes in the other measured variables. We concluded that creatine monohydrate increased the strength of high-intensity anaerobic and aerobic type activities in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies but had no apparent effects upon lower intensity aerobic activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, McMaster University Medical Center, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tarnopolsky
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D003401:Creatine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017240:Mitochondrial Myopathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D003401:Creatine