The Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Markers of Muscle Damage and Inflammation Following Exercise in Older Adults: A Brief Narrative Review

Abstract

Exercise induced muscle damage occurs following strenuous and unfamiliar exercise and results in biomarkers of muscle damage and inflammation in the circulation. Creatine (Cr) is a commonly utilized nutritional supplement which has been proposed to enhance post-exercise recovery and has been suggested to decrease exercise induced inflammation. Exercise is well recognized to be beneficial for older adults to maintain skeletal muscle mass and strength as well as promote health for other biological systems. However, older adults can experience chronic low-grade inflammation, sometimes referred to as ‘inflammaging’. Therefore, it may be prudent to limit post-exercise induced skeletal muscle damage and inflammation for the older adult population who may already be in a pro-inflammatory state and at risk of age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia). The purpose of this brief narrative review is to outline the current research on Cr and its effects on biomarkers of muscle damage and inflammation in older adults. Further, the review will suggest areas of research that are required to fully understand how Cr supplementation may affect muscle damage and inflammatory biomarkers in older adults who exercise.