--- title: "The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise…" description: "Creatine supplementation combined with exercise may offer additive benefits for muscle strength, function, and lean mass in older adults, particularly…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html" type: "study" study_key: "d30762623" journal: "J Geriatr Phys Ther" year: 2020 pmid: "30762623" doi: "10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic Review [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d30762623 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | J Geriatr Phys Ther | | Year | 2020 | | PMID | [30762623](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30762623/) | | DOI | [10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222](https://doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222) | | Study key | d30762623 | ## Takeaway Creatine supplementation combined with exercise may offer additive benefits for muscle strength, function, and lean mass in older adults, particularly women, but more research is needed for bone, cognition, and optimal dosing. ## The question Does creatine supplementation combined with exercise provide additive improvements in skeletal muscle, bone, and mental health compared to exercise alone in healthy older adults? ## Hypothesis The hypothesis was not explicitly stated, but the review aimed to assess if creatine supplementation combined with exercise results in additive benefits over exercise alone in an aging population. ## Methods This systematic review utilized PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled trials. Studies included creatine supplementation combined with exercise in an aging population, adhering to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, and performed quality assessments using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. ## Results Seventeen studies were reviewed, suggesting that additive ergogenic creatine effects on upper/lower body strength, functional capacity, and lean mass in older adults may require continuous daily low-dose creatine with at least 12 weeks of resistance training. Potential increases in regional bone mineral density of the femur might require at least 1 year of creatine supplementation combined with moderate resistance training. No additive effects of creatine over exercise alone were found for mental health indices. Benefits were more consistent in older women than men. ## Conclusion Creatine monohydrate is safe for older adults. While creatine with moderate- to high-intensity exercise may improve skeletal muscle health in an aging population, more studies are needed to determine effective dosing and duration for combined effects on bone and cognition. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the systematic review itself, but it highlights the need for additional long-term clinical trials to determine effective dosing and duration paradigms for bone and cognition. ## Verbatim from the abstract > increases in regional bone mineral density of the femur; may improve skeletal muscle health ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Creatine Monohydrate | Strong evidence | [Creatine Monohydrate](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/123.md) | ## Reference 1. **The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic Review** J Geriatr Phys Ther 2020 · [PMID 30762623](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30762623/) · [DOI 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222](https://doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222) > increases in regional bone mineral density of the femur; may improve skeletal muscle health ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html","name":"The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic…","description":"Creatine supplementation combined with exercise may offer additive benefits for muscle strength, function, and lean mass in older adults, particularly…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30762623.html#study","name":"The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic Review","headline":"The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic…","datePublished":"2020","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Geriatr Phys Ther"},"identifier":"PMID:30762623","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30762623/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0000000000000222","abstract":"Creatine supplementation combined with exercise may offer additive benefits for muscle strength, function, and lean mass in older adults, particularly women, but more research is needed for bone, cognition, and optimal dosing."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Creatine Monohydrate](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/123.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Evidence: ATP/phosphocreatine energy buffer](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s123.md) - [Resistance training and creatine supplementation on oxidative stress, muscle strength…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d37206869.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).