Beneficial effects of creatine supplementation in dystrophic patients.
The effect of creatine (Cr) supplementation on muscle function and body composition of 12 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and three with Becker dystrophy was evaluated by a randomized double-blind cross-over study (3 g Cr or maltodextrin daily for 3 months, with wash-out period of 2 months). After placebo, no change was observed in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and resistance to fatigue, whereas total joint stiffness (TJS) was increased by approximately 25% (P < 0.05). The patients receiving Cr did not show any change in TJS, improved MVC by 15% (P = 0.02), and almost doubled their resistance to fatigue (P < 0.001). In patients still independent of a wheelchair (n = 5), bone mineral density increased by 3% (P < 0.05), and urinary excretion of collagen type I cross-linking N-telopeptide declined to about one third (P < 0.001) after Cr. No adverse effect was observed. Thus, Cr may provide some symptomatic benefit in these patients.
Louis
Magali
M
Institut d'Education Physique et de Réadaptation, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1 Place Pierre de Coubertin, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Lebacq
Jean
J
Poortmans
Jacques R
JR
Belpaire-Dethiou
Marie-Claude
MC
Devogelaer
Jean-Pierre
JP
Van Hecke
Paul
P
Goubel
Francis
F
Francaux
Marc
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D003404:Creatinine