The Study
Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Body Composition and Malnutrition-Inflammation Score in Hemodialysis Patients: An Exploratory 1-Year, Balanced, Double-Blind Design
This study is like a fair test where patients were randomly given either creatine or a fake pill (placebo) without knowing which. Because it was fair and controlled, we can say creatine probably helped increase muscle-related measurements, but we can't be 100% sure it works for everyone or that the gains were real muscle and not just water.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study checks if taking creatine every day helps people on dialysis keep or gain muscle and feel healthier.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 574 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Gaining muscle and cell water is good for strength and body function, but not improving health scores means creatine alone may not make patients feel healthier overall.
- 260% of people taking creatine gained muscle mass, vs 37% on sugar pill.
- 365% improved muscle index vs 16% in placebo.
- 4Body water went up by 0.7L, mostly inside cells.
- 5But their health and nutrition score didn't get better.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2024
Authors
Ana C B Marini, R. Schincaglia, D. Candow, G. Pimentel
Related Content
Claims (7)
Taking a creatine supplement every day might help kidney dialysis patients gain more muscle and fight muscle loss over time.
If you're on dialysis, taking a creatine supplement every day for a year might help your muscles hold more water and get bigger, and most people in the study saw some benefit.
Taking a creatine supplement every day might help kidney patients on dialysis keep more muscle mass over time.
Taking creatine every day for a year doesn’t help improve nutrition or reduce inflammation in people on dialysis, according to this claim.
If you're on dialysis, taking 5 grams of creatine every day for a year might add about three-quarters of a liter of water inside your cells, which could help you gain lean body mass.
Creatine pulls water into your cells, making them swell a bit, and that swelling is how it helps your body work better.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.