Abstract
Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) causes to increased soreness,
impaired function of muscles, and reductions in muscle force.
Accumulating evidence suggests beneficial effects of creatine on EIMD.
Nevertheless, outcomes differ substantially across various articles. The
main aim of this meta analysis was to evaluate the effect of creatine on
recovery following EIMD. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and
Google scholar were systematically searched up to July 2020. The
Cochrane Collaboration tool for examining risk of bias was applied for
assessing the quality of studies. Weighted mean difference (WMD), 95
percent confidence interval (CI) and random effects model, were applied
for estimating the overall effect. Between studies heterogeneity was
examined using the chi-squared and I2 statistic. Nine
studies met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data showed that creatine
significantly reduced CK concentration overall (WMD = -30.94; 95% CI:
-53.19, -8.69; P = 0.006) and at three follow-up times 48, 72 and 96
hours) in comparison with placebo. In contrast, effects were not
significant in LDH concentration overall (WMD = -5.99; 95% CI: -14.49,
2.50; P= 0.167), but creatine supplementation leaded to a significant
reduction in LDH concentrations in trials with 48 hours measurement of
LDH. The current data indicates that creatine consumption is better than
rest after diverse forms of damaging and exhaustive exercise or passive
recovery. The benefits relate to a decrease in muscle damage indices and
Improved muscle function because of muscle power loss after exercise.
Keywords: Creatine; Creatine Kinase; Lactate Dehydrogenase;
Muscle Damage; Meta-analysis; Systematic Review