Effect of Supplementation With Creatine on the Recovery of Ischemic Stroke

NCT ID: NCT06576466

Last Updated: 2025-07-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

92 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-09-27

Study Completion Date

2027-07-01

Brief Summary

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Stroke is a leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Most strokes are ischemic, caused by acute arterial occlusion. Post-stroke treatment focuses on secondary prevention and rehabilitation, but few treatments address functional recovery. Creatine, a supplement known for improving physical performance, may aid in the recovery of stroke patients, reducing sarcopenia and improving strength among other effects. This pilot study will investigate the effectiveness of creatine supplementation in enhancing physical and functional recovery in ischemic stroke patients. The study will involve a randomized, double-blind clinical trial comparing creatine monohydrate to a placebo.

Detailed Description

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Stroke is one of the most impactful health conditions worldwide, currently being the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death globally. Approximately 85-90% of strokes are ischemic, primarily caused by acute arterial occlusion, leading to an area of cerebral, spinal, or retinal infarction. The size of the lesion depends on the affected blood vessel and the duration of the occlusion, as well as cerebral autoregulation, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and many other factors. After the acute phase, treatment is based on secondary prevention and rehabilitation, with few treatments currently available that focus on functional recovery once the infarction has occurred. Stroke survivors experience a loss of functionality, a decline in physical capacity associated with a decrease in muscle mass, sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, and an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Creatine is a widely studied nutritional supplement, mainly in athletes, where it has been shown to improve training adaptation and physical performance. Its effects on energy metabolism, as an anti-inflammatory, and on calcium homeostasis have been described. There are also studies indicating possible musculoskeletal benefits in the elderly population. Given its role in improving physical performance and muscle mass, considering the significant impact of these conditions on patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke, and considering its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, we propose a pilot study to determine the effectiveness of creatine supplementation in stroke patients. This supplementation could potentially lead to greater physical and functional recovery following an ischemic stroke.

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial will be conducted. The trial will include a group supplemented with creatine monohydrate at a dose of 0.3 g/kg/day for 7 days, followed by 0.1 g/kg/day for 12 weeks, alongside standard clinical practice; and a control group supplemented with a placebo (corn starch maltodextrin), following the same protocol and doses.

Conditions

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Stroke, Ischemic

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
A professional from the pharmacy service, who will not be involved in data collection or participant care, will handle the blinding.

The care staff responsible for patient care will be unaware of each participant's assignment group.

Blinding may be broken if a serious adverse effect related to the supplementation is suspected in one of the participants.

Study Groups

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Creatine monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate. Guinama brand with CE marking. Code 89823.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Creatine monohydrate

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Creatine monohydrate. Guinama brand with CE marking. Code 89823.

Dextromaltose

Dextrinomaltose. Guinama brand with CE marking. Code 91146.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

Dextrinomaltose. Guinama brand with CE marking. Code 91146.

Interventions

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Creatine monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate. Guinama brand with CE marking. Code 89823.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

Dextrinomaltose. Guinama brand with CE marking. Code 91146.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age between 18 and 80 years
* Recent diagnosis of ischemic stroke (from 24 hours to 5 days) .
* Neurological deficit due to the stroke that affects mobility (paresis and/or ataxia) and requires motor rehabilitation.
* Ability to understand and sign the informed consent form, or failing that, have sufficient support to carry out the correct follow-up of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

* Moderate-severe disability prior to stroke, defined by an mRS\>2.
* Unstable or severe clinical situation that prevents active rehabilitation.
* Neurological deficit due to stroke that prevents walking without help from another person. The use of support with a cane, crutch or walker is permitted.
* Moderate or severe dysphagia that makes therapeutic adherence difficult.
* Use of creatine supplements in the last 3 months, or use of anabolic products in the last 3 months.
* Severe kidney disease (GFR \<30ml/min/1.73 m2).
* Musculoskeletal pathology that prevents assessment of muscle strength. For example: fractures, severe osteoarthritis, ligament tears or tendinopathies.
* History of allergic reactions to creatine.
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
* Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Comunidad Autónoma de las Islas Baleares (Dirección General de Investigación en Salud, Formación y Acreditación)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fundació d'investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Raquel Delgado Mederos, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Fundació d'investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears

Locations

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IdISBa

Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Spain

Central Contacts

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Raquel Delgado Mederos, PhD

Role: CONTACT

0034971205234

Eduard Bargay Pizarro, MD

Role: CONTACT

34 971 20 52 34

Facility Contacts

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Raquel Delgado Mederos, PhD

Role: primary

971 20 52 34

References

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Bender A, Samtleben W, Elstner M, Klopstock T. Long-term creatine supplementation is safe in aged patients with Parkinson disease. Nutr Res. 2008 Mar;28(3):172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.01.001.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19083405 (View on PubMed)

Gualano B, de Salles Painelli V, Roschel H, Lugaresi R, Dorea E, Artioli GG, Lima FR, da Silva ME, Cunha MR, Seguro AC, Shimizu MH, Otaduy MC, Sapienza MT, da Costa Leite C, Bonfa E, Lancha Junior AH. Creatine supplementation does not impair kidney function in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 May;111(5):749-56. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1676-3. Epub 2010 Oct 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20976468 (View on PubMed)

Pan JW, Takahashi K. Cerebral energetic effects of creatine supplementation in humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Apr;292(4):R1745-50. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00717.2006. Epub 2006 Dec 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17185404 (View on PubMed)

McMorris T, Mielcarz G, Harris RC, Swain JP, Howard A. Creatine supplementation and cognitive performance in elderly individuals. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2007 Sep;14(5):517-28. doi: 10.1080/13825580600788100.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17828627 (View on PubMed)

Turner CE, Byblow WD, Gant N. Creatine supplementation enhances corticomotor excitability and cognitive performance during oxygen deprivation. J Neurosci. 2015 Jan 28;35(4):1773-80. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3113-14.2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25632150 (View on PubMed)

Butchart S, Candow DG, Forbes SC, Mang CS, Gordon JJ, Ko J, Deprez D, Chilibeck PD, Ditor DS. Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Progressive Resistance Training in Stroke Survivors. Int J Exerc Sci. 2022 Aug 1;15(2):1117-1132. doi: 10.70252/EKHJ1489. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35992184 (View on PubMed)

Forbes SC, Cordingley DM, Cornish SM, Gualano B, Roschel H, Ostojic SM, Rawson ES, Roy BD, Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Candow DG. Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Brain Function and Health. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 22;14(5):921. doi: 10.3390/nu14050921.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35267907 (View on PubMed)

Solis MY, Artioli GG, Otaduy MCG, Leite CDC, Arruda W, Veiga RR, Gualano B. Effect of age, diet, and tissue type on PCr response to creatine supplementation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017 Aug 1;123(2):407-414. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00248.2017. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28572496 (View on PubMed)

Chrusch MJ, Chilibeck PD, Chad KE, Davison KS, Burke DG. Creatine supplementation combined with resistance training in older men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001 Dec;33(12):2111-7. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200112000-00021.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11740307 (View on PubMed)

Scherbakov N, von Haehling S, Anker SD, Dirnagl U, Doehner W. Stroke induced Sarcopenia: muscle wasting and disability after stroke. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Dec 10;170(2):89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.10.031. Epub 2013 Oct 14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24231058 (View on PubMed)

Coleman ER, Moudgal R, Lang K, Hyacinth HI, Awosika OO, Kissela BM, Feng W. Early Rehabilitation After Stroke: a Narrative Review. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2017 Nov 7;19(12):59. doi: 10.1007/s11883-017-0686-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29116473 (View on PubMed)

Balestrino M. Role of Creatine in the Heart: Health and Disease. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 7;13(4):1215. doi: 10.3390/nu13041215.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33917009 (View on PubMed)

Schroder H, Fito M, Estruch R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Corella D, Salas-Salvado J, Lamuela-Raventos R, Ros E, Salaverria I, Fiol M, Lapetra J, Vinyoles E, Gomez-Gracia E, Lahoz C, Serra-Majem L, Pinto X, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Covas MI. A short screener is valid for assessing Mediterranean diet adherence among older Spanish men and women. J Nutr. 2011 Jun;141(6):1140-5. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.135566. Epub 2011 Apr 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21508208 (View on PubMed)

Scheitz JF, Sposato LA, Schulz-Menger J, Nolte CH, Backs J, Endres M. Stroke-Heart Syndrome: Recent Advances and Challenges. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Sep 6;11(17):e026528. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.026528. Epub 2022 Sep 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36056731 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death

Stroke among top 10 causes of death according to the Word Health Organization (WHO).

Other Identifiers

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PROSALUT2023-27

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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