Table 1.
Summary of studies examining creatine and resistance training on muscle outcomes in older adults.
| First Author, Year | Population | Supplement Dose | Resistance Training | Duration | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguiar et al. 2013 [18] | N = 18; healthy women; Mean age = 65 y | CR (5 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | CR ↑ gains in fat-free mass (+3.2%), muscle mass (+2.8%), 1 RM bench press, knee extension, and biceps curl compared to PLA |
| Alves et al. 2013 [19] | N = 47; healthy women, Mean age = 66.8 y (range: 60–80 y) | CR (20 g/day for 5 days, followed by 5 g/day thereafter), PLA with and without RT | RT = 2 x/wk | 24 wks | ↔1 RM strength compared to RT + PLA |
| Bemben et al. 2010 and Eliot et al. 2008 [20,21] | N = 42; healthy men; age = 48–72 y | CR (5 g/day), PRO (35 g/day), CR + PRO, PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 14 wks | ↔lean tissue mass, 1 RM strength |
| Bermon et al. 1998 [22] | N = 32 (16 men, 16 women); healthy; age = 67–80 y | CR (20 g/day for 5 days followed by 3 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 7.4 wks (52 days) | ↔lower limb muscular volume, 1- and 12-repetitions maxima, and isometric intermittent endurance |
| Bernat et al. 2019 [23] | N = 24 healthy men; age = 59 ± 6 y | CR (0.1 g/kg/day), PLA | High-velocity RT = 2 x/wk | 8 wks | ↔muscle thickness, physical performance, upper-body muscle strength; CR ↑ leg press strength, total lower body strength |
| Brose et al. 2003 [24] | N = 28 (15 men, 13 women); healthy; age: men = 68.7, women = 70.8 y | CR (5 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 14 wks | CR ↑ gains in lean tissue mass and isometric knee extension strength; ↔ type 1, 2 a, 2 x muscle fibre area |
| Candow et al. 2008 [25] | N = 35; healthy men; age = 59–77 y | CR (0.1 g/kg/day), CR + PRO (PRO: 0.3 g/kg/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 10 wks | CR ↑ muscle thickness compared to PLA. CR ↑1 RM bench press ↔ 1 RM leg press |
| Candow et al. 2015 [26] | N = 39 (17 men, 22 women); healthy; age = 50–71 y | CR (0.1 g/kg) before RT, CR (0.1 g/kg) after RT, PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 32 wks | CR after RT ↑ lean tissue mass, 1 RM leg press, 1 RM chest press compared to PLA |
| Candow et al. 2020 [27] | N = 38; healthy men; age = 49–67 y | CR (On training days: 0.05 g/kg before and 0.05 g/kg after exercise) + 0.1 g/kg/day on non-train-ing days (2 equal doses) or PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 months | ↔lean tissue mass, muscle thickness, or muscle strength |
| Chilibeck et al. 2015 [28] | N = 33; healthy women; Mean age = 57 y | CR (0.1 g/kg/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 52 wks | ↔lean tissue mass and muscle thickness gains between groups; ↑ relative bench press strength compared to PLA. |
| Chrusch et al. 2001 [29] | N = 30; healthy men; age = 60–84 y | CR (0.3 g/kg/d for 5 days followed by 0.07 g/kg/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | CR ↑ gains in lean tissue mass; CR ↑1 RM leg press, 1 RM knee extension, leg press endurance, and knee extension endurance; ↔ 1 RM bench press or bench press endurance. |
| Cooke et al. 2014 [30] | N = 20; healthy men; age = 55–70 y | CR (20 g/day for 7 days followed by 0.1 g/kg/day on training days) | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | ↔lean tissue mass, 1 RM bench press, 1 RM leg press |
| Deacon et al. 2008 [31] | N = 80 (50 men, 30 women); COPD; age = 68.2 y | CR (22 g/day for 5 day followed by 3.76 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 7 wks | ↔lean tissue mass or muscle strength |
| Eijnde et al. 2003 [32] | N = 46; healthy men; age = 55–75 y | CR (5 g/day), PLA | Cardiorespiratory + RT = 2–3 x/wk | 26 wks | ↔lean tissue mass or isometric maximal strength |
| Gualano et al. 2011 [33] | N = 25 (9 men, 16 women); type 2 diabetes; age = 57 y | CR (5 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | ↔lean tissue mass |
| Gualano et al. 2014 [34] | N = 30; "vulnera-ble" women; Mean age = 65.4 y | CR (20 g/day for 5 days; 5 g/day thereafter), PLA with and without RT | RT = 2 x/wk | 24 wks | CR + RT ↑ gains in 1RM bench press and appendicular lean mass compared to PLA + RT |
| Johannsmeyer et al. 2016 [35] | N = 31 (17 men, 14 women); healthy; age = 58 y | CR (0.1 g/kg/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | CR ↑ gains in lean tissue mass; ↔ 1RM strength and endurance; CR attenuated magnitude increase in time to complete balance test compared to PLA |
| Neves et al. 2011 [36] | N = 24 (postmen-opausal women with Knee osteo-arthritis); Age = 55–65 y | CR (20 g/day for 1 week, followed by 5 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | CR ↑ gains in limb lean mass. ↔ 1RM leg press |
| Pinto et al. 2016 [37] | N = 27 (men and women); healthy; age = 60–80 y | CR (5 g/day), PLA | RT = 3 x/wk | 12 wks | CR ↑ gains in lean tissue mass; ↔ 10 RM bench press or leg press strength |
| Smolarek et al. 2020 [38] | N = 26 (5 men, 21 women); long-term care residence; age = 68.9 ± 6.8 y | CR (5 g/day), PLA | RT = 2 x/wk | 16 wks | CR ↑ dominant and non-dominant handgrip strength |
CR = creatine; PRO = protein; RM = repetition maximum; ↑ = significant greater; ↔ no difference between conditions; wk = weeks; y = years; g = grams; kg = kilograms.