Impact of creatine supplementation on inflammation: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo trials - PubMed
3 days ago
- #inflammation
- #creatine
- #meta-analysis
- Creatine supplementation is widely recognized for its ergogenic effects on strength and body composition.
- Recent studies have explored its potential anti-inflammatory properties, particularly in exercise-induced stress and aging-related chronic inflammation.
- This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of creatine supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in human populations.
- Eight randomized controlled trials were included, evaluating creatine supplementation versus placebo in healthy individuals, athletes, and clinical populations.
- Primary outcomes were inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, TNF-α, and prostaglandin E2.
- Pooled analysis showed no significant acute effects of creatine on CRP (SMD = 0.32; 95% CI: -0.29 to 0.94; p = 0.30; I² = 28%).
- Chronic effects of creatine on CRP (SMD = -0.11; 95% CI: -0.69 to 0.48; p = 0.73; I² = 0%) and IL-6 (SMD = -0.06; 95% CI: -0.64 to 0.53; p = 0.84; I² = 0%) were also not significant.
- The certainty of evidence was rated as moderate for all outcomes.
- Creatine supplementation does not significantly reduce inflammatory biomarkers in humans based on current evidence.
- Future well-powered trials with standardized protocols are needed to clarify creatine's role in modulating inflammation.