Benefits of Creatine Supplementation for Vegetarians Compared to Omnivorous Athletes: A Systematic Review
Kaviani M, Shaw K, Chilibeck PD
International journal of environmental research and public health · 49 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Systematic review (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2020-04-27 · Int J Environ Res Public Health · vol. 17 · issue 9 · p. 3041
- Publisher
- Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
- Cited
- 89 citations · more than 79% of similar papers · 1.1× the field average
- References
- 53 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Muscle metabolism and nutrition · Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact · Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- Creatine, Phosphocreatine, Creatine Monohydrate, Medicine, Internal medicine, Athletes, Anaerobic exercise, Endocrinology, Creatine kinase, Lean body mass, Physical therapy, Physiology, Placebo, Body weight, Energy metabolism
- MeSH
- humans, creatine, prospective studies, cognition, memory, diet, vegetarian, physical fitness, dietary supplements, athletes, vegetarians
3 authors
From CA
- Mojtaba Kaviani · correspondingAcadia University
- Keely A. ShawUniversity of Saskatchewan
- Philip David Chilibeck · correspondingUniversity of Saskatchewan
Abstract
Background
Creatine monohydrate is a nutritional supplement often consumed by athletes in anaerobic sports. Creatine is naturally found in most meat products; therefore, vegetarians have reduced creatine stores and may benefit from supplementation.
Objective
to determine the effects of creatine supplementation on vegetarians.
Data sources
PubMed and SPORTDiscus. Eligibility criteria: Randomized controlled trials (parallel group, cross-over studies) or prospective studies.
Participants
Vegetarians.
Intervention
Creatine supplementation. Study appraisal and synthesis: A total of 64 records were identified, and eleven full-text articles (covering nine studies) were included in this systematic review.
Results
Creatine supplementation in vegetarians increased total creatine, creatine, and phosphocreatine concentrations in vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscle, plasma, and red blood cells, often to levels greater than omnivores. Creatine supplementation had no effect on brain levels of phosphocreatine. Creatine supplementation increased lean tissue mass, type II fiber area, insulin-like growth factor-1, muscular strength, muscular endurance, Wingate mean power output, and brain function (memory and intelligence) in vegetarian participants. Studies were mixed on whether creatine supplementation improved exercise performance in vegetarians to a greater extent compared to omnivores.
Limitations
Studies that were reviewed had moderate-high risk of bias.
Conclusions
Overall, it appears vegetarian athletes are likely to benefit from creatine supplementation.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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