THE EFFECTS OF CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON MUSCLE AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS: A REVIEW OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6063Keywords:
Creatine, Aging, Older Adults, Resistance Training, Muscle Strength, Cognitive Function, SarcopeniaAbstract
Background; Aging is associated with a progressive decline in muscle mass and muscle strength, which significantly affects physical performance and quality of life in older adults. The aging process may also contribute to the deterioration of cognitive function. Creatine supplementation has been proposed as a potential intervention to support muscle and cognitive function in older adults.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength, and cognitive function in older adults.
Methods: A review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using the PubMed database. The literature search was performed in May 2026 and included studies published between 2000 and 2026. Studies involving adults aged ≥60 years who received creatine supplementation either alone or in combination with resistance training were included in the analysis.
Results: Based on 13 randomized controlled trials, creatine supplementation was shown to increase muscle strength, lean body mass, and overall muscle function in older adults. The greatest benefits were observed when creatine supplementation was combined with regular resistance training. Evidence regarding cognitive function remains inconclusive, although some studies reported potential benefits in selected cognitive domains.
Conclusion: Creatine supplementation, particularly when combined with resistance training, may represent an effective strategy for improving muscle mass and strength in older adults. Although evidence regarding cognitive outcomes remains inconclusive, some findings suggest potential benefits for cognitive function. Further RCTs are needed to clarify these effects.
References
Aguiar, A. F., Januário, R. S. B., Pires Junior, R., Gerage, A. M., Pina, F. L. C., do Nascimento, M. A., Padovani, C. R., & Cyrino, E. S. (2013). Long-term creatine supplementation improves muscular performance during resistance training in older women. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 113(4), 987–996. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2514-6
Amiri, E., & Sheikholeslami-Vatani, D. (2023). The role of resistance training and creatine supplementation on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, muscle strength, and quality of life in older adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1062832. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1062832
Arazi, H., Eghbali, E., & Suzuki, K. (2021). Creatine supplementation, physical exercise and oxidative stress markers: A review of the mechanisms and effectiveness. Nutrients, 13(3), 869. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030869
Avgerinos, K. I., Spyrou, N., Bougioukas, K. I., & Kapogiannis, D. (2018). Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Experimental Gerontology, 108, 166–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013
Bernat, P., Candow, D. G., Gryzb, K., Butchart, S., Schoenfeld, B. J., & Bruno, P. (2019). Effects of high-velocity resistance training and creatine supplementation in untrained healthy aging males. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 44(6), 570–577. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2019-0066
Brosnan, J. T., & Brosnan, M. E. (2007). Creatine: Endogenous metabolite, dietary, and therapeutic supplement. Annual Review of Nutrition, 27, 241–261. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nutr.27.061406.093621
Camandola, S., & Mattson, M. P. (2017). Brain metabolism in health, aging, and neurodegeneration. The EMBO Journal, 36(11), 1474–1492. https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.201695810
Candow, D. G., Zello, G. A., Ling, B., Farthing, J. P., Chilibeck, P. D., McLeod, K., Harris, J., & Johnson, S. (2014). Comparison of creatine supplementation before versus after supervised resistance training in healthy older adults. Research in Sports Medicine, 22(1), 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2013.852088
Candow, D. G., Vogt, E., Johannsmeyer, S., Forbes, S. C., & Farthing, J. P. (2015). Strategic creatine supplementation and resistance training in healthy older adults. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 40(7), 689–694. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2014-0498
Candow, D. G., Forbes, S. C., & Vogt, E.,(2019). Effect of pre-exercise and post-exercise creatine supplementation on bone mineral content and density in healthy aging adults. Experimental Gerontology, 119, 89–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.01.025
Candow, D. G., Chilibeck, P. D., Gordon, J. J., & Kontulainen, S. (2021a). Efficacy of creatine supplementation and resistance training on area and density of bone and muscle in older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 53(11), 2388–2395. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002722
Candow, D. G., Chilibeck, P. D., Gordon, J., Vogt, E., Landeryou, T., Kaviani, M., & Paus-Jensen, L. (2021b). Effect of 12 months of creatine supplementation and whole-body resistance training on measures of bone, muscle and strength in older males. Nutrition and Health, 27(2), 151–159. https://doi.org/10.1177/0260106020975247
Chilibeck, P. D., Candow, D. G., Kaviani, M., & Zello G. A. (2017). Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: A meta-analysis. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 8, 213–226. https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJSM.S123529
Chilibeck, P. D., Chrusch, M. J., Chad, K. E., Davison, K. S., & Burke, D. G. (2005). Creatine monohydrate and resistance training increase bone mineral content and density in older men. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 9(5), 352–353.
Cruz-Jentoft, A. J., Bahat, G., Bauer, J., Boirie, Y., Bruyère, O., Cederholm, T., Cooper, C., Landi, F., Rolland, Y., Sayer, A. A., Schneider, S. M., Sieber, C. C., Topinkova, E., Vandewoude, M., Visser, M., & Zamboni, M. (2019). Sarcopenia: Revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age and Ageing, 48(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169
Fernández-Garrido, J., Martin, E. G., Saez-Berlanga, A., Gargallo-Bayo, P., Gene-Morales, J., Alix-Fages, C., Jiménez-Martínez, P., Caballero, O., Salvador-Palmer, R., & Colado, J. C. (2026). Effects of high-load, velocity-intentional variable resistance training combined with creatine supplementation on neuroplasticity, oxidative stress, inflammation, physical function, cognitive performance and quality of life in older adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Experimental Gerontology, 218, 113122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2026.113122
Forbes, S. C., Candow, D. G., Ostojic, S. M., Roberts, M. D., & Chilibeck, P. D. (2021). Meta-analysis examining the importance of creatine ingestion strategies on lean tissue mass and strength in older adults. Nutrients, 13(6), 1912. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13061912
Forbes, S. C., Cordingley, D. M., Cornish, S. M., Gualano, B., Roschel, H., Ostojic, S. M., Rawson, E. S., Roy, B. D., Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., & Candow, D. G. (2022). Effects of creatine supplementation on brain function and health. Nutrients, 14(5), 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14050921
Gotshalk, L. A., Volek, J. S., Staron, R. S., Denegar, C. R., Hagerman, F. C., & Kraemer, W. J. (2002). Creatine supplementation improves muscular performance in older men. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 34(3), 537–543. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200203000-00023
Gualano, B., Macedo, A. R., Alves, C. R. R., Roschel, H., Benatti, F. B., Takayama, L., de Sá Pinto, A. L., Lima, F. R., & Pereira, R. M. R. (2014). Creatine supplementation and resistance training in vulnerable older women: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Experimental Gerontology, 53, 7–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2014.02.003
Harada, C. N., Natelson Love, M. C., & Triebel, K. L. (2013). Normal cognitive aging. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 29(4), 737–752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cger.2013.07.002
Kreider, R. B., Kalman, D. S., Antonio, J., Ziegenfuss, T. N., Wildman, R., Collins, R., Candow, D. G., Kleiner, S. M., Almada, A. L., & Lopez, H. L. (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: Safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
McMorris, T., Mielcarz, G., Harris, R. C., Swain, J. P., & Howard, A. (2007). Creatine supplementation and cognitive performance in elderly individuals. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 14(5), 517–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825580600788100
Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., Triantafyllidis, K. K., Kechagias, K. S., Forbes, S. C., & Candow, D. G. (2023). Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 81(4), 416–427. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac064
Rawson, E. S., & Venezia, A. C. (2011). Use of creatine in the elderly and evidence for effects on cognitive function in young and old. Amino Acids, 40(5), 1349–1362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-0855-9
Wallimann, T., Tokarska-Schlattner, M., & Schlattner, U. (2011). The creatine kinase system and pleiotropic effects of creatine. Amino Acids, 40(5), 1271–1296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-0877-3
Wyss, M., & Kaddurah-Daouk, R. (2000). Creatine and creatinine metabolism. Physiological Reviews, 80(3), 1107–1213. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.2000.80.3.1107
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Joanna Zuzanna Gugulska, Krzysztof Sebastian Habirek, Maja Maria Porażko, Anna Katarzyna Żurakowska-Zadrożna, Adrianna Krupska, Julia Anna Czarnecka, Zuzanna Marta Marcinkowska, Anna Kropiwnicka, Michał Kieres, Klaudia Karolina Wójcik, Aleksander Kacper Kierys, Michał Mieczysław Parus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
