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Does Creatine Supplementation Enhance Performance in Active Females? A Systematic Review
Ryan Tam1, Lachlan Mitchell2, Adrienne Forsyth3
1Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Blacktown 2148, Australia.
Nutrients
|January 25, 2025
Summary
Creatine supplementation shows limited performance benefits for active females. Most studies found no significant improvements in strength, anaerobic, or aerobic exercise compared to placebo, highlighting research gaps.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Science
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Creatine is a popular dietary supplement widely used for performance enhancement.
- Existing research predominantly focuses on creatine's effects in male populations.
- The efficacy of creatine supplementation in active females remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of creatine supplementation on exercise performance in active females.
- To assess the quality of existing research concerning creatine and female athletes.
- To identify research gaps and methodological limitations in this field.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across five databases up to July 2024.
- Inclusion criteria: studies with supplemental creatine, physically active female participants, and exercise performance outcomes.
- Quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist, with added items for female athlete research.
Main Results:
- Out of 10,563 identified records, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria.
- Creatine supplementation showed inconsistent results: 3/11 studies improved strength/power, 4/17 improved anaerobic performance, and 1/5 improved aerobic performance.
- Most studies reported no significant performance improvement compared to placebo.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence base suggests limited benefits of creatine supplementation for exercise performance in active females.
- Research quality varies, with most studies inadequately addressing methodological considerations specific to female physiology.
- Heterogeneity in study design, participant characteristics, and interventions limits definitive conclusions on creatine's effects in this population.
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