DOES CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN ELDERLY WOMEN?

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of shortterm (7 days) oral creatine supplementation (0.3 g·kg) in elderly women during exercise tests that reflect functional capacity during daily living tasks. We assessed several indices of endurance capacity (1-mile walk test, gross mechanical efficiency, ventilatory threshold, and peak oxygen intake determined during cycle-ergometry) and lower-extremity functional performance (time to complete sit-stand test). Subjects were assigned to a creatine (n = 10; age 67 ± 6 years) or placebo (n = 6; age 68 ± 4 years) group. We found a significant improvement only after creatine loading in the sit-stand test (placebo9.7 ± 0.9 seconds for pretest and 9.3 ± 0.7 seconds for posttest, p > 0.05; creatine10.0 ± 0.7 seconds for pretest and 8.8 ± 1.1 seconds for posttest). Significance was recorded at p < 0.05 for the interaction effect (group [creatine, placebo] 3 time [pretest, post-test]). In elderly women, short-term oral creatine supplementation does not improve endurance capacity but increases the ability to perform lower-body functional living tasks involving rapid movements.