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Creatine has no effect on progression of Parkinson's disease

Creatine monohydrate treatment for patients with early Parkinson’s disease did not improve clinical outcomes, according to a recently published study in JAMA.

“Creatine was initially considered because of evidence that it plays an important role in cellular energy production, which may be impaired in Parkinson disease,” Karl Kieburtz, MD, MPH, of the University of Rochester, and colleagues wrote.

Researchers conducted a multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 1:1 randomized efficacy trial to assess the value of creatine monohydrate in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. A total of 1,741 patients, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease within 5 years and treated with a dopamine agonist or levodopa were randomized to placebo or 10 mg/day creatine monohydrate. Participants enrolled from March 2007 to May 2010 and were followed through September 2013.

The researchers ended the trial early after results from a planned interim analysis for futility found no measurable differences in body system adverse or serious adverse effects between the placebo and cohort groups.

“Failure to find a treatment effect in this trial may have been related to the creatine dosage or to a change in the stage of Parkinson’s disease studied compared with the futility study (use of a de novo placebo group unexposed to any dopaminergic therapy in the futility study vs early in the course of Parkinson’s disease but requiring coadministered potent dopaminergic therapy),” Kieburtz and colleagues wrote. – by Casey Hower

Disclosure: Kieburtz reports serving as a consultant for the NIH. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.