Supplements of creatine may help people with fibromyalgia

 People with fibromyalgia may benefit from taking creatine supplements, says a small study published in Arthritis Care & Research. Fibromyalgia is a common condition that causes muscle pain and fatigue.

A team from Brazil divided 28 people with fibromyalgia into two groups; one group received creatine monohydrate supplements for 16 weeks and the other received a dummy treatment.

At the end of the study, people taking creatine had more muscle strength than those in the placebo group and tended to have higher levels of phosphorylcreatine in their muscles (a substance that helps energy demands in muscles and the brain).

But creatine did not have any significant effect on levels of pain, quality of sleep, quality of life or cognitive function.

Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid used by athletes to improve high-intensity training.

“Creatine supplementation increased intramuscular phosphorylcreatine content and improved lower and upper-body muscle function, with minor changes in other fibromyalgia features,” the authors say.

The authors of the study conclude that creatine supplementation may be a “useful dietary intervention to improve muscle function in fibromyalgia patients”.

But larger studies and more conclusive evidence are needed before doctors advise people with fibromyalgia to take creatine to treat their symptoms.