Effect of creatine monohydrate on clinical progression in patients with Parkinson disease: a randomized clinical trial.

Study answer

What this study found

Creatine monohydrate did not slow clinical progression in Parkinson disease. The primary Global Statistical Test at year 5 was not significant (t = -0.75, 2-sided P = .45), and most secondary outcomes were also similar between groups, including total LEDD at year 5 (difference 45, 95% CI -14 to 103; P = .14) and UPDRS total change (-0.9, 95% CI -3.1 to 1.3). The trial authors concluded that creatine monohydrate for at least 5 years did not improve clinical outcomes compared with placebo and does not support use to slow progression in patients with Parkinson disease.

Study & population

This was a multicenter randomized clinical trial at 45 investigative sites in the United States and Canada.

Intervention

Creatine monohydrate was given orally as identical 7-g sachets containing 5 g creatine, mixed with food and taken twice daily for a total dose of 10 g/day.

Key limitation

The intervention showed no efficacy despite a large, long-term trial, so any benefit is unlikely to be clinically meaningful in this population.

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Original abstract