Creatine helps people with ‘Muscular Dystrophies’ ?
I got a news alert from Google news earlier today so i thought i’d write and see what people think! I would go on and on about what creatine is, but the whole site is full of creatine information and articles so i’ll get straight to the point!
“The evidence from the studies “shows that short- and medium-term creatine treatment improves muscle strength in people with muscular dystrophies and is well-tolerated,” said lead reviwer Dr. Rudolf Kley of Ruhr University Cochum in Germany.
The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
Although creatine has been widely studied as a performance enhancer, it’s still not clear if the supplement makes a difference, according to Roger Fielding, Ph.D., of Tufts University, who has also recently written a review of creatine treatments for neuromuscular diseases.”
Musclular disyrophies is genetic group of more than 30 genetic and hereditary muscle diseases. It’s characterized by skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and death of muscle cells and tissue. Althought i know creatine does help build muscle tissues, i don’t know too much about muscular dystrophies, so i cannot really say my true thoughts.
If you have any comments, please feel free to post.
20070310 3:54 pm
I’m 55 years old and I was born with muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. I have a level (3) type of CMT. My hands and legs have been relatively useless all my life because of the weaknesses I have had to live with. I am an educated person with a masters in computer science, and I mention this to demonstrate that I have been trained to analyze problems and thus seek solutions.
To conteract my weakness problems brought on with CMT I started doing exercises with weights back in 1976. As I aged, the pain and weakness in my forearms and hands became more intense, and no one in the medical community could help…..doctors only shrugged their shoulders and told me to take asprin when the pain became overwhelming, no one had any answers………the Muscular Dystrophy Association had no suggestions.
(Was it the disease or apathy?)
Last year by chance I came across an article about people with different types of muscular dytrophies possibly getting some relief by taking creatine. I thought, “hell, what do I have to lose.” So I began taking a teaspoon of creatine every morning……then exercising.
After three months the pain is now what I would consider, “mild.” I have much more overall energy………my stamina has improved greatly, and my strength has doubled. Say what you will about creatine, but to me it is a big help in my life.
I am my own test dummy for the experiments I’ve undertaken to combat CMT muscular dystrophy, and I take no endorsements from any company or manufacturer……I am also cautious right now about recommending creatine for MD patients. But as my own lab rat, I continue to study the daily effects of creatine and exercise on my own body and overall health.
In trying to do in my own individual way what so many government grant & university sponsored research people and doctors, including those sponsored by the MDA, can NOT do…..I’m at least TRYING to help with some helpful
possibilities!
My work is a bit on the selfish side……..I have been blessed with two grandsons……born to my daughter……and those who know about the source roots of CMT muscular dystrophy know what that means. At least I’ll have some explanatory advice for my grandsons when the time comes.
Tim McGuirk
St. Louis, Missouri
20070414 8:50 am
I have beckers muscular dytrophy and have been considering doing my own “Creatine Therapy” thanks for posting this. I will need to do more research about Creatine of course and its effects any info you have about this or knowledge of where to get info about Creatine and muscular dystrophy.
email me at te.kokako@gmail.com
20081012 6:31 am
hi my name is sam and i have muscular dystrophy and its getting really hard to handle i am very thankful that i am not on a wheelchair yet because i am sixteen and usually by this age i should be on a wheelchair but recently i feel weaker and its harder for me to get up and i have never taken any medicine to help or slow the symptoms of muscular dystrophy can someone please email me at lilsam92forever@yahoo.com if they information about any medicine that can help or organizations that can aid muscular dystrophy people like me thanks alot
Sam Abu
20090811 1:21 am
Im a high school gradaute. Im planning to attend college in the spring. I do have Muscular Dystrophy. I wanted to know if anyone out there would have information on anything about scholarships grants etc for students with muscular dystrophy. email me at. kaykay1324@yahoo.com thank you
20091206 12:41 am
I am 69 years old. I have myotonic dystrophy type 2. My doctor told me about creatine when I was diagnosed about 6 years ago. I’d been showing the symptoms and getting worse for years before but I put it down as just middle age. Creatine monohydrate does help. I take 2 tsp twice a day. Just put the powder in water and stir. It’s pretty well tasteless. Apparently more than that amount does nothing extra.
It does help. If I don’t take it I definitely notice I am weaker. It’s not a cure but it helps. I also take the full gamut of vitamins and minerals and eat sensibly. Avoid sugar and junk food. No alcohol.
By the way, don’t drink grapefruit juice with creatine. For some reason it makes the creatine ineffective. I know because I did it. Did some checking and found out. Good luck.
20091223 8:09 am
Hi,i am 23 year old girl who also have a muscular dystrophy.I like to study fashion designing but can’t get any scholarship.Is there any scholarship for students who have muscular dystrophy.my email add is lusu_123456@hotmail.com.
20100330 10:54 pm
To be honest with you that’s all you need – 5g per day of creatine is enough to keep it going through your muscles.
I would recommend taking the Max Powers Anabolic Stack before working out, or if you don’t plan on working out a day, take it in the morning with your protein when you wake up.
Those who look into this should really consider going on the creatine cycle, this is because your body gets used to creatine if you just keep taking it. After that, stop all creatine intake for 3 weeks straight. After those 3 weeks, repeat the cycle.