Prevention of traumatic headache, dizziness and fatigue with creatine administration. A pilot study

Abstract

Aim: The complex pathobiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) offers numerous targets for potential neuroprotective agents. We evaluate the clinical benefit after creatine (Cr) administration in children and adolescents Methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative, open-labelled pilot study of the possible neuroprotective effect of Cr was carried out on 39 children and adolescents, aged between 1 and 18 years of age, with TBI. The Cr was administered for 6 months, at a dose of 0.4 g/kg in an oral suspension form every day. For categorical variables, we used the Chi-square test to identify differences between controls and cases. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value < 0.05 and not statistically significant if p-value > 0.1. Results: The administration of Cr to children and adolescents with TBI improved results in several parameters, including duration of post traumatic amnesia (PTA), duration of intubation, intensive care unit stay. Significant improvement was recorded in the categories of headache (p < 0.001), dizziness (p = 0.005) and fatigue (p < 0.001), aspects in all patients. No side effects were seen due to Cr administration. Conclusion: More specific examinations including brain spectroscopy for in vivo evaluation of Cr can be done, in order to draw conclusions for the optimal duration and manner of Cr supply, as well as its possible role for the prevention of TBI complications, in double blind studies.

Decrease in N-Acetylaspartate Following Concussion May Be Coupled to Decrease in Creatine

“…40,[42][43][44] A further consideration about this intricate matter of the Cr levels following mTBI [26][27][28][29] is given by the preliminary evidence that dietary supplementation of Cr can facilitate recovery of function in TBI. [45][46][47] If cerebral Cr levels were induced to increase following mTBI, it is not clear why exogenously administered Cr would enhance recovery after TBI. On the contrary, positive effects of Cr administration would easily be explained by the notion that TBI is responsible for a decrease (not an increase) in cerebral Cr concentrations and that the exogenous Cr administration may reduce Cr depletion caused by TBI.…”

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treating Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Creatine is thought to offer therapeutic benefits by stimulating protein synthesis or reducing protein degradation, stabilizing biological membranes, and preventing adenosine triphosphate depletion, which occurs in patients with TBI [35].…”

“…Sakellaris et al [35,36] conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which 39 children aged 1-18 years with severe TBI were randomized to receive a daily dose of 0.4 g/ kg creatine in an oral suspension of water or apple juice (n = 20) or no treatment (n = 19) for 6 months. It appears that treatment began on the inpatient unit and continued at home after discharge.…”

Monitoring long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury with magnetic resonance spectroscopy

“…Creatine is involved in energy buffering and transport [5], impairment of its function leads to symptoms similar to those seen in PCS, and supplementation of Creatine can improve symptoms after injury [21,22].…”

“…Creatine supplementation immediately after brain injury improved cognitive function, relieved headaches, dizziness and fatigue, reduced cell damage and post-traumatic amnesia and improved personality and communication [21,22]. However, Creatine has only been administered in the acute phase of TBI, as soon as possible after the injury; it would be interesting to see if the effect is similar in participants with persistent PCS.…”