Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: a meta-analysis

Design

• Included: 22 RCTs, 721 participants (mean ages ~57–70 y across studies)
• Intervention: creatine + supervised resistance training 2–3×/week for 7–52 weeks vs placebo + matched training

Pooled body-composition outcome

• Lean tissue mass: MD +1.37 kg (95% CI +0.97 to +1.76; p < 0.00001)

Pooled strength outcomes

• Chest press: SMD +0.35 (95% CI +0.16 to +0.53; p = 0.0002)
• Leg press: SMD +0.24 (95% CI +0.05 to +0.43; p = 0.01)

Evidence hygiene

Heterogeneity and industry ties appear in some sports-nutrition literatures—read primary trials for renal monitoring, hydration, and polypharmacy contexts in frail cohorts.

Publication

Chilibeck PD, Kaviani M, Candow DG, Zello GA. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2019 Feb;10(1):298-311. Epub 2018 Nov 21. PMID 29138605.