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Creatine monohydrate in ALS: effects on strength, fatigue, respiratory status and ALSFRS.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rosenfeld, J; King, RM; Jackson, CE; Bedlack, RS; Barohn, RJ; Dick, A; Phillips, LH; Chapin, J; Gelinas, DF; Lou, J-S
Published in: Amyotroph Lateral Scler
October 2008

Our objective was to determine the effect of creatine monohydrate on disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One hundred and seven patients with the diagnosis of probable or definite ALS, of less than five years duration from symptom onset, were randomized to either treatment with daily creatine monohydrate (5 g/d) or placebo. In this multicenter, double-blinded study we followed changes in disease progression: using quantitative measures of strength via maximal isometric voluntary contraction, forced vital capacity, ALSFRS, quality of life, fatigue and survival. Patients were followed for nine months. The results showed that creatine monohydrate did not significantly improve motor, respiratory or functional capacity in this patient population. The drug was well tolerated and the study groups well balanced, especially considering the absence of forced vital capacity criteria for entrance into the study. There was a trend toward improved survival in patients taking daily creatine monohydrate and this was identical to the trend seen in another recently published report of creatine in ALS patients 1. In conclusion, creatine monohydrate (5 g/d) did not have an obvious benefit on the multiple markers of disease progression measured over nine months. We measured fatigue during isometric contraction and found no significant improvement despite anecdotal patient reports prior to and during the study. The trend toward improved survival was also found in another recently completed blinded trial using creatine monohydrate. Further investigation on the possible survival benefit of creatine in this patient population is ongoing.

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Published In

Amyotroph Lateral Scler

DOI

EISSN

1471-180X

Publication Date

October 2008

Volume

9

Issue

5

Start / End Page

266 / 272

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Vital Capacity
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Survival Rate
  • Quality of Life
  • Placebos
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Muscle Strength
  • Muscle Fatigue
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Rosenfeld, J., King, R. M., Jackson, C. E., Bedlack, R. S., Barohn, R. J., Dick, A., … Lou, J.-S. (2008). Creatine monohydrate in ALS: effects on strength, fatigue, respiratory status and ALSFRS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler, 9(5), 266–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482960802028890
Rosenfeld, Jeffrey, Ruth M. King, Carlayne E. Jackson, Richard S. Bedlack, Richard J. Barohn, Arthur Dick, Lawrence H. Phillips, John Chapin, Deborah F. Gelinas, and Jau-Shin Lou. “Creatine monohydrate in ALS: effects on strength, fatigue, respiratory status and ALSFRS.Amyotroph Lateral Scler 9, no. 5 (October 2008): 266–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482960802028890.
Rosenfeld J, King RM, Jackson CE, Bedlack RS, Barohn RJ, Dick A, et al. Creatine monohydrate in ALS: effects on strength, fatigue, respiratory status and ALSFRS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2008 Oct;9(5):266–72.
Rosenfeld, Jeffrey, et al. “Creatine monohydrate in ALS: effects on strength, fatigue, respiratory status and ALSFRS.Amyotroph Lateral Scler, vol. 9, no. 5, Oct. 2008, pp. 266–72. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/17482960802028890.
Rosenfeld J, King RM, Jackson CE, Bedlack RS, Barohn RJ, Dick A, Phillips LH, Chapin J, Gelinas DF, Lou J-S. Creatine monohydrate in ALS: effects on strength, fatigue, respiratory status and ALSFRS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2008 Oct;9(5):266–272.

Published In

Amyotroph Lateral Scler

DOI

EISSN

1471-180X

Publication Date

October 2008

Volume

9

Issue

5

Start / End Page

266 / 272

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Vital Capacity
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Survival Rate
  • Quality of Life
  • Placebos
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Muscle Strength
  • Muscle Fatigue
  • Middle Aged
  • Male