Study
Examining the feasibility and preliminary effects of resistance exercise training and creatine supplementation in individuals treated for colorectal cancer.
In 27 treated colorectal-cancer survivors, a 10-week exercise programme was feasible, but creatine added no clear benefit over placebo.
Summary Does creatine make exercise more helpful after colorectal cancer treatment? Show / hide ↓
Researchers studied 27 people who had completed treatment for colorectal cancer. Everyone followed a 10-week strength-training programme with both in-person and online sessions, three times a week. Half took 5 grams of creatine daily, while the others took an inactive powder called a placebo. Most people completed the study and followed the programme, and both groups became modestly stronger, but creatine did not clearly improve results more than the placebo.
What this means for you: This small study does not show that creatine adds meaningful benefits to exercise after colorectal cancer treatment. The exercise programme appeared practical and acceptable, but larger studies are needed before buying creatine for this purpose.
early evidenceThis pilot trial tested whether creatine monohydrate could be added to a hybrid resistance-training programme for people previously treated for colorectal cancer. Twenty-seven participants were randomised to resistance exercise plus 5 g/day creatine monohydrate (n=13) or the same exercise programme plus 5 g/day corn-starch maltodextrin placebo (n=14). Training was prescribed three times weekly for 10 weeks, with in-clinic and virtual sessions. Recruitment was difficult: 27 of 410 assessed people enrolled, or 6.6%, despite 1,378 potentially eligible people being identified through the registry. Retention was 24/27 (88.9%), and adherence to both training and supplementation exceeded 85%. No serious adverse events were reported, and participants rated the programme highly acceptable. Secondary outcomes included body composition, strength and physical function. No significant between-group differences were observed. Both groups had modest improvements in muscular strength and Short Physical Performance Battery scores. The useful finding is practical rather than proof of a creatine effect: supervised hybrid training was feasible in this clinical group, while creatine did not produce a clear additional improvement.
Creatine supplementation did not demonstrate clear additive effects in this pilot trial.
Only 27 cancer survivors were enrolled, with 13 and 14 people per group. The intervention lasted 10 weeks and the study found no significant between-group differences in its secondary outcomes.
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