Creatine Supplementation Associated with Resistance Training Does Not Alter Renal and Hepatic Functions

Creatine is the most popular nutritional supplement widely used to improve performance in activities that involve exercise of short duration and high intensity. However, the complications arising from its use are not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two doses of creatine supplementation on renal and hepatic function in healthy adults during eight weeks of resistance exercise training. Biochemical tests were performed on 35 athletes randomly distributed into three groups, placebo (PLA, n = 12), creatine (CRE1, n = 12) and creatine2 (CRE2, n = 11) before and after eight weeks of resistance training. In a double-blind design, the volunteers were supplemented (20 g/day) with creatine (CRE1, CRE2) or placebo (PLA) for seven days and at the 53 subsequent days with 0.03g/kg of body weight of each supplement (CRE1, PLA) and 5g/day for CRE2. There was no intervention in the composition of their diets, which were recorded and analyzed. The results of biochemical tests conducted remained within normal ranges. Creatinine values increased by 12.2% for CRE1 and 9.0% for CRE2, whereas decreased by 4.7% in PLA; however, these values did not exceed normal rates. The values of liver function tests declined in nearly all fractions in all treatments, not being statistically significant, though. It is concluded that creatine supplementation at the dosages used (0.03g/kg and 5g/day) for healthy subjects during eight weeks does not alter hepatic or renal function, hence under the conditions of this study, creatine was considered safe.