Impact Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation On Balance In Sedentary Non-sarcopenic Elderly Women

The widespread dissemination of creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation in recent decades has garnered substantial interest within the scientific community, especially due to its therapeutic potential in various clinical conditions and aging. PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of CrM supplementation on the balance of sedentary non-sarcopenic elderly women. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted, involving 24 sedentary elderly women eligible for creatine and placebo (maltodextrin) supplementation. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: i) Control Group (GC; n = 8; 67.25 ± 4.9 years; 72.2 ± 12.4 kg); ii) Placebo Group (GP; n = 8; 67.25 ± 4.9 years; 73.3 ± 12.4 kg); and iii) Creatine Group (GCr; n = 8; 67.13 ± 4.3 years; 73.2 ± 11.1 kg), subjected to a static balance assessment using barometric stabilometry in the orthostatic unipodal equilibrium position with the dominant leg (B-DL) and the non-dominant leg (B-NDL). Unipodal balance variables analyzed included: i) time in unipodal balance (s) and ii) center of pressure (COP) path length (mm). The 14-day supplementation protocol comprised two phases: i) Overload Phase (5 days; 20 g/day in 4 doses) and ii) Maintenance Phase (9 days; 5 g/day). Statistical analysis of the results utilized repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni post-hoc analysis. The effect size (d) was computed using Cohen's formula, with results interpreted according to Rhea (2004). RESULTS: B-DL exhibited a noteworthy effect of substantial magnitude in the maintenance time of the unipodal position in GCr (d = 0.88; ∆% = 53.62). Conversely, the GC (d = 0.19; ∆% = 10.83) and GP (d = 0.03; ∆% = 1.68) groups did not demonstrate a significant effect. A similar trend was observed in COP path length, where GCr displayed a medium-magnitude effect (d = 0.40; ∆% = -12), while the GC and GP groups did not manifest a noteworthy effect. Regarding B-NDL, a medium-magnitude effect was evident in the maintenance time of the unipodal position in GCr (d = 0.51; ∆% = 31.6), while the GC (d = 0.15; ∆% = 6.45) and GP (d = 0.05; ∆% = 2.31) groups did not reveal a significant effect. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a potential contributory role of CrM supplementation in enhancing balance among sedentary non-sarcopenic elderly women.