Creatine Improves Strength in Fibromyalgia Patients

SAO PAULOCreatine supplementation improves muscle function and content in fibromyalgia patients, according to a new study published in Arthritis Care & Research, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

For the double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, University of Sao Paulo researchers gave fibromyalgia patients either creatine monohydrate or placebo for 16 weeks (Arthritis Care Res. DOI: 10.1002/acr.22020). Muscle function, aerobic conditioning, cognitive function, quality of sleep, quality of life, kidney function, and adverse events were measured.

After four months, the creatine group's muscle phosphorylcreatine content increased by 80 percent, while subjects receiving placebo dropped 2 percent. In addition, those taking the supplement exhibited a 9.8-percent increase in muscle strength in the leg press, compared to a .5-percent decrease in the placebo group. Though supplementation did not improve other fibromyalgia factors such as quality of life and aerobic conditioning, the scientists suggest creatine supplementation may be a useful dietary intervention to boost strength for fibromyalgia patients.