PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - SarahJ. Deacon
AU  - EmmaE. Vincent
AU  - SallyJ. Singh
AU  - MichaelC. Steiner
AU  - Paul Greenhaff
AU  - MichaelD. Morgan
TI  - Does creatine supplementation enhance the effects of physical training during pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD?
AID  - 10.1183/09059180.00010116
DP  - 2006 Dec 01
TA  - European Respiratory Review
PG  - 187--189
VI  - 15
IP  - 101
4099  - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/15/101/187.short
4100  - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/15/101/187.full
SO  - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW2006 Dec 01; 15
AB  - 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.