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Does creatine supplementation enhance the effects of physical training during pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD?

^* Dept of Respiratory and Thoracic Medicine, Institute for Lung Health, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK ^# Centre for Integrated Systems Biology and Medicine, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, UK

CORRESPONDENCE: Sarah J. Deacon, Institute for Lung Health, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK

We conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled trial to examine whether creatine supplementation augments the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), containing aerobic exercise and resistance training (RT).

80 subjects with COPD (GOLD stages I–IV) [mean (SD) age 68 (7.8) yrs, FEV₁ 44.1 (20.3) % predicted] completed 21 sessions of PR, with enhanced RT, following baseline measurements and randomisation to take creatine (Cr) or placebo (Pl) supplement. A subgroup had muscle biopsies.

Groups were well matched at baseline except for gender (M:F Cr 19:19, Pl 31:11, Chi² p = 0.03). Mean change in functional performance & muscle strength after PR are shown. Health status (CRQ-SR) improved significantly after PR but did not differ between groups. Muscle biopsies showed evidence of creatine uptake.

This adequately powered study showed significant improvements in all outcomes following PR. Creatine supplementation did not enhance these benefits.