The Effects Of Acute Creatine Supplementation On Muscle Strength In Patients With Parkinsonʼs Disease

Abstract

Recent evidence suggest that creatine (Cr) supplementation may provide therapeutic benefit for patients with neuromuscular diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). Individuals with PD are often as disabled by constitutional symptoms such as weakness and fatigue, as they are by the better know motor symptoms. Therapeutic agents that ameliorate these deficits could therefore be useful in the treatment of this disease. PURPOSE To study the effect of short term Cr supplementation on muscular strength in patients with mild-to-moderate PD. METHODS Twenty-four patients with idiopathic PD were randomized to receive Cr supplementation (CRE, N= 14, age = 62.8 ± 2.1 yr) orplacebo (PLA, N= 10, 62.2 ± 2.6 yr), using a double blind procedure. Participants ingested capsules containing Cr at a rate of 20g/day spread out over 4 daily doses or a lactose placebo. Muscular strength was assessed by 1 -repetition maximum (1 -RM) for chest press (CP) and leg extension (LE) both before and after supplementation. RESULTS 1-RM data before and after 5 days of supplementation are presented in the Table below.TableStatistical analyses (ANOVA) revealed a time effect for leg extension strength (p=0.001) indicating both groups experienced a significant increase following supplementation. No other statistical changes were observed. CONCLUSION These data suggest that acute oral creatine supplementation does not increase maximal strength of the chest and leg musculature in patients with mild-to-moderate PD.