title: Creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: 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 (31) P 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christiano R R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Bianca M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Fernanda R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Maria C G
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Otaduy
authors.forename: Ana Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Calich
authors.forename: Aline C C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tritto
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Sá Pinto
authors.forename: Hamilton
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roschel
authors.forename: Cláudia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Fabiana B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Benatti
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonfá
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gualano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003401:Creatine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010725:Phosphocreatine; D003401:Creatine