You may know creatine as a favored supplement among weight lifters and
competitive athletes. They increase the amount of this naturally occurring amino
acid in their diet because it provides more energy for the muscles, which allows
for longer workouts, which, in turn, lead to increased muscle mass. Now there is
research to suggest that creatine may also help people regain muscle strength
lost because of disease.
More research on creatine is needed before people with neuromuscular diseases
should consider taking it; however, a pilot study suggests that people who have
diseases such as neuropathic disorders or inflammatory myopathy may benefit from
creatine oral supplementation. At the end of a 10-day study, researchers found
that participants who had taken creatine had more hand, foot, and leg strength,
had gained muscle weight, and had increased endurance for high-intensity
exercise. Researchers note that even modest improvements in muscle strength can
greatly boost a person's quality of life: for example, improved muscle strength
may be the difference between a person being completely dependent on others for
their care and being able to feed or dress his or herself.
Work is underway to determine creatine's full effects on people with
neuromuscular disorders. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is currently doing a
study to evaluate creatine's effectiveness in people with Lou Gehrig's disease
(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Even though scientific evaluations have not
identified harmful activities in this supplement, in 1997 the media targeted it
as the potential cause of death for three college wrestlers. Later investigation
revealed that the extreme weight-loss measures used by the wrestlers might have
been a factor in their deaths. At any rate, people who have neuromuscular
diseases are advised to continue with their current treatment plan until many
trials have been conducted and any side effects or contraindications are
known.
