1 Laboratory of Research In Clinical Nutrition and Sports (Labince), Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; 2 Faculty of Physical Education, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of lowdose creatine supplementation associated with resistance training on lean mass, strength and bone mass in the elderly of both sexes. Methods: This was a 12-week, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The individuals were randomly allocated into one of the following groups: placebo plus resistance training (PL + RT) and creatine supplementation (5 grams of creatine monohydrate per day) plus resistance training (CR + RT). The participants were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were lean mass and strength, assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and ten-repetition maximal (10RM) tests, respectively. Secondary outcomes included lumbar spine, right and left femoral neck, dual femur and whole body bone mineral density (BMD) and whole body bone mineral content (BMC), assessed by DXA. Results: The CR+RT group had superior gains in lean mass when compared with the PL+RT group (p=0.02). Changes in 10RM tests in bench press and leg press exercises, body composition, BMD and BMC of all assessed sites did not significantly differ between the groups (p>0.05). Male participants from CR+RT group had a significant superior gain in body mass, lean mass and SMI when compared to male participants from PL+RT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Twelve weeks of low-dose creatine supplementation associated with resistance training resulted in increases in lean mass in the elderly only in male participants.