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Prevention of traumatic headache, dizziness and fatigue with creatine administration. A pilot study
George Sakellaris1, George Nasis, Maria Kotsiou
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Heraklio, Greece. gsakell@mycosmos.gr
Insights
Creatine (Cr) supplementation in children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) showed significant improvements in recovery markers and reduced symptoms like headaches and fatigue, with no observed side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents complex pathobiology with multiple targets for neuroprotection.
- Pediatric TBI requires specific therapeutic strategies to mitigate long-term effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical benefits of creatine (Cr) administration in children and adolescents following TBI.
- To assess the neuroprotective potential of creatine in a pediatric TBI population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized, open-label pilot study involved 39 pediatric TBI patients (ages 1-18).
- Patients received oral creatine suspension daily for 6 months at 0.4 g/kg.
- Statistical analysis used the Chi-square test, with significance set at p<0.05.
Main Results:
- Creatine administration improved post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) duration, intubation duration, and ICU stay.
- Significant reductions in headache (p<0.001), dizziness (p=0.005), and fatigue (p<0.001) were observed in all patients.
- No adverse side effects were reported with creatine supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Creatine supplementation demonstrates potential as a neuroprotective agent in pediatric TBI.
- Further double-blind studies using advanced imaging like brain spectroscopy are recommended to optimize creatine dosage and evaluate its role in TBI complication prevention.
Aim:
The complex pathobiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) offers numerous targets for potential neuroprotective agents. We evaluate the clinical benefit after creatine (Cr) administration in children and adolescents.
Methods:
A prospective, randomized, comparative, open- labelled pilot study of the possible neuroprotective effect of Cr was carried out on 39 children and adolescents, aged between 1 and 18 years of age, with TBI. The Cr was administered for 6 months, at a dose of 0.4 g/kg in an oral suspension form every day. For categorical variables, we used the Chi-square test to identify differences between controls and cases. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value <0.05 and not statistically significant if p-value >0.1.
Results:
The administration of Cr to children and adolescents with TBI improved results in several parameters, including duration of post traumatic amnesia (PTA), duration of intubation, intensive care unit stay. Significant improvement was recorded in the categories of headache (p<0.001), dizziness (p=0.005) and fatigue (p<0.001), aspects in all patients. No side effects were seen due to Cr administration.
Conclusion:
More specific examinations including brain spectroscopy for in vivo evaluation of Cr can be done, in order to draw conclusions for the optimal duration and manner of Cr supply, as well as its possible role for the prevention of TBI complications, in double blind studies.
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