American Study Finds That Creatine Monohydrate Helps Improve Vascular Health of Older Adults

Medical News: As the population ages, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and a major driver of healthcare costs globally. Among the many factors contributing to CVD, age itself is the most significant non-modifiable risk factor. Aging introduces various changes to the body, including a decline in vascular health, often termed vascular aging. This condition is marked by stiffening of arterial walls, reduced elasticity, increased oxidative stress, and impaired endothelial function - all of which elevate the risk of heart-related diseases.


American Study Finds That Creatine Monohydrate Helps Improve Vascular Health of Older Adults

While vascular aging impacts larger arteries, it also severely affects smaller blood vessels, known as the microvasculature. These changes in vascular function are compounded by the body’s reduced ability to produce nitric oxide (NO), a molecule essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels. In this context, researchers continually seek non-pharmaceutical interventions that can improve vascular health, particularly in older adults.
 
The Role of Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate (CrM) is widely recognized for its benefits in improving muscle performance and energy metabolism. However, recent studies suggest that its benefits might extend to vascular health. Creatine, a naturally occurring compound in the body, is synthesized using amino acids like glycine and arginine and plays a crucial role in energy provision within cells. While creatine’s role in sports performance is well-documented, emerging evidence points to its potential as a therapeutic agent for vascular health.
 
This Medical News reportdelves into a pilot study exploring the effects of CrM supplementation on vascular health in older adults. Conducted by American researchers from Florida State University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and Flagler College, the study examined both macrovascular and microvascular functions to determine whether CrM could serve as a nutraceutical intervention to combat vascular aging.
 
Study Design and Methodology
The pilot study followed a double-blind, randomized crossover design involving 12 healthy, sedentary older adults aged 50 - 64 years. Participants were provided CrM or a placebo for four weeks, separated by a four-week washout period. The supplementation protocol consisted of an initial loading phase (20 grams daily for five days) followed by a maintenance dose (5 grams daily for 23 days). Key vascular metrics, including flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for macrovascular function and oxygen saturation (StO2) for microvascular function, were assessed before and after supplementation.
 
Participants were carefully selected to exclude those with chronic diseases or conditions that could interfere with vascular health. Comprehensive blood tests ensured kidney health and other baseline parameters were within normal ranges before the study.
 
Key Findings
-Macrovascular Funct ion Improvements
CrM supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in FMD, a critical indicator of vascular endothelial health. FMD increased from 7.68% to 8.9% after CrM supplementation, indicating enhanced blood vessel dilation and endothelial function. This improvement remained significant even after normalizing for individual differences in vascular shear stress.
 
Increased FMD is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. For every 1% increase in FMD, the risk of such events decreases by approximately 13%.
 
-Enhanced Microvascular Function
Microvascular health also improved significantly. The StO2 reperfusion rate, an indicator of microvascular recruitment and reactivity, increased from 2.29%/sec to 3.71%/sec following CrM supplementation. These findings highlight creatine’s potential role in improving blood flow at the capillary level, which is crucial for tissue oxygenation.
 
-Metabolic Benefits
CrM supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels from prediabetic levels (103.64 mg/dL) to within a healthy range (99 mg/dL). This reduction did not occur in the placebo group.
 
Triglyceride levels also decreased significantly after CrM supplementation, suggesting potential lipid-lowering effects. Elevated triglycerides are a known risk factor for CVD, making this finding particularly relevant for older adults.
 
-Oxidative Stress and Biomarker Analysis
Despite improvements in vascular and metabolic functions, the study did not find significant changes in oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). This suggests that the vascular benefits of CrM may not directly stem from its antioxidant properties, as previously hypothesized.
 
Mechanisms Behind the Benefits
The exact mechanisms through which CrM improves vascular health remain speculative but intriguing. One potential explanation involves its relationship with NO production. NO is vital for blood vessel relaxation and overall vascular health, and its synthesis depends on the availability of L-arginine. CrM supplementation may “spare” L-arginine, allowing more of this amino acid to be used for NO production. Additionally, creatine’s role in energy metabolism may enhance the function of ATP-dependent processes critical for maintaining vascular tone.
 
At the microvascular level, CrM may influence endothelial-derived hyperpolarization factors (EDHFs), which regulate small vessel dilation. The energy-related benefits of CrM likely support the function of ATP-dependent potassium channels, which play a key role in microvascular health.
 
Study Limitations
As a pilot study, the small sample size is a significant limitation. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore additional biomarkers of vascular health. Furthermore, the study’s short duration may not fully capture the long-term benefits of CrM supplementation. Future research should also investigate whether the observed benefits translate into reduced incidence of cardiovascular events.
 
Conclusion
The findings from this pilot study suggest that creatine monohydrate supplementation has the potential to improve both macrovascular and microvascular functions in older adults. By enhancing endothelial function and reducing fasting glucose and triglyceride levels, CrM shows promise as a safe, cost-effective intervention for mitigating vascular aging and reducing cardiovascular risk.
 
While the study did not observe changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, the improvements in vascular health metrics are nonetheless significant. These results pave the way for future research to further explore creatine’s role as a nutraceutical solution for aging-related vascular issues. For older adults seeking non-pharmaceutical approaches to maintain heart and vascular health, CrM could become an essential part of their regimen.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/1/58
 
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