title: Exercise training, creatine supplementation, and bone health in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: Evidence suggests that creatine may have some beneficial effects on bone. The study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise alone or combined with creatine on bone health in ovariectomized rats. Findings show that exercise, but not creatine, has an important role in improving bone health.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise training alone or combined with creatine supplementation on bone health parameters in ovariectomized rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were randomly allocated into one of five groups: (i) sham-operated, (ii) ovariectomized non-trained placebo-supplemented, (iii) ovariectomized non-trained creatine-supplemented, (iv) ovariectomized exercise-trained placebo-supplemented, and (v) ovariectomized exercise-trained creatine-supplemented. Downhill running training and/or creatine supplementation (300 mg/kg body weight) were administered for 12 weeks. Bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and biomechanical and histomorphometric parameters were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No interaction effects were observed for BMC and BMD at whole body, femur, and lumbar spine (p > 0.05). Importantly, a main effect of training was detected for whole body BMC and BMD (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively), femoral BMC and BMD (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively), and lumbar spine BMC and BMD (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), suggesting that the trained animals had higher bone mass, irrespective of creatine supplementation. Main effects of training were also observed for maximal load (p < 0.001), stiffness (p < 0.001), and toughness (p = 0.046), indicating beneficial effects of exercise training on bone strength. Neither a main effect of supplementation nor an interaction effect was detected for biomechanical parameters (p > 0.05). No main or interaction effects were observed for any of the histomorphometric parameters evaluated (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise training, but not creatine supplementation, attenuated ovariectomy-induced bone loss in this rat model.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Murai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roschel
authors.forename: L V S
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Pabis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Pereira
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: R M R
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jorgetti
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gualano
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003401:Creatine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D003401:Creatine