Osteoporosis- (bone density loss)- and the possibility of severe injury from falls are a major health concern for post-menopausal women.
In a first of its kind, a new Canadian study has shown clear evidence of benefits for women over 50 who participate in a regimen of weight-training and taking creatine supplements.
Darren Candow (PhD, CSEP-CEP), , associate professor and associate dean of Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina, in Saskatchewan
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Dr. Candow’s research, in collaboration with Dr. Phil Chilibeck at the University of Saskatchewan was published in the journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
The experiment involved post-menopausal women who engaged in a regular year-long regimen of supervised weight training combined with creatine supplements for one group and a placebo for another.
It shows that the women in the training plus creatine group benefitted in terms of a measureable bone strength increase, while another measure showed that bone mineral density loss was reduced with the regimen compared to a greater loss with the placebo group.
Professor Candow says, that means that there is always bone density loss as we age but the training and creatine slowed this process.
These positive results have led to a new study where Dr. Candow and Chilibeck are investigating the effects of creatine and exercise (weight training and brisk walking) for 2 years on bone biology in postmenopausal women. After the 2 years of creatine and exercise, women will be monitored for risk of falls, injuries and fractures.
It is hypothesized that the added bone and muscle strength would reduce both the number and severity of any bone fractures or related ailments which currently are estimated to cost the Canadian health care system more than $3 billion annually.
While it can’t be assured, professor Candow says the beneficial affects of the strength exercises plus creatine should improve the quality of life in senior years as they “may improve the ability to perform tasks of daily living, decrease the incidence of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and improve functionality.”
The research is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
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