Creatine/Neotine

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A California Biotech Company Tests Creatine for CMT

Posted on January 24, 2006

By Gretchen Glick

The Avicena Group, Inc., of Palo Alto, CA, recently developed two new

technologies which may lead to increased muscle strength and increased aerobic

capacity, as well as an overall reduction in the severity of disease symptoms.

This biotech company is focused on developing drugs for neuromuscular diseases,

such as CMT and is working with esteemed CMT researchers to test these new

products.

Together with the Avicena Group, Drs. D. Chetlin and Laurie Gutmann of

West Virginia University School of Medicine, have provided their results from a

pilot study of a creatine compound that demonstrated a significant increase in

muscle size, as well as in the level of total muscle creatine concentration in

patients with CMT.

The compound used in this study was creatine monohydrate, a naturally occurring

biochemical that is necessary for immediate energy metabolism. It is a

derivative of three amino acids: arginine, glycine and methionine. ONLY CMT

PATIENTS were used in this pilot study featuring creatine provided by Avicena.

According to Dr. Chetlin, lead researcher, " Although the use of creatine

demonstrated some promise as a nutritional supplement for CMT, the

strength-training exercise protocol we used appeared to be more effective than

the supplement itself. " (Most of the patients in this study had CMT 1A.)

" CMT is probably the most enigmatic of all the neuropathies, said Chetlin. " and

predicting creatine's effectiveness in CMT is inadvisable because the disease

expresses itself in highly variable fashion, even within the same subtype. "

Thus, it is still unknown how creatine supplementation would effect types other

than CMT 1A.

According to Chetlin, it is unlikely that creatine alone would prepare an

inactive person for exercise. Said Chetlin, " One of the big problems we

discovered with our patients was that many led a sedentary lifestyle, exposing

them to increased risk for coronary artery disease. Like other inactive

populations, we believe that persons with CMT should engage in regular activity,

when and where possible, to avoid complications associated with inactivity. "

Dr. Chetlin warns that creatine is NOT a cure for CMT. It may, in certain

circumstances, permit some patients to improve exercise performance and

capacity. Creatine has also long been thought to have nerve-protection

properties as well. For a history of Creatine and more information visit

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine.

CMT patients should have their serum creatine levels checked through routine

blood tests at an annual general physical exam done by a doctor of Internal

Medicine. Lower than normal levels may indicate the need for creatine

supplementation under a doctor's supervision only. Creatine monohydrate is

available commercially, over-the-counter, in powder or capsule form.

Funding agencies that have received proposals for further CMT Creatine studies

have said they are not interested in examining the use of creatine in CMT

patients. Dr. Chetlin concludes, " therefore, at this time there are no future

study plans for creatine in large groups of CMT patients. "

More info at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-creatine.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/creatine/NS_patient-creatine

Possible side effects of creatine include:

Stomach cramps

Nausea

Diarrhea

Loss of appetite

Muscle cramps

Weight gain

Creatine may cause water to be drawn away from other areas of the body and into

muscle tissue, which could increase the risk of dehydration.

High doses of creatine could potentially injure the kidneys, liver and heart.

Theoretically, creatine may cause kidney damage because its by-product,

creatinine, is filtered through the kidneys into urine. Although studies haven't

found adverse events in recommended doses, there have been a couple of case

reports of people who have experienced kidney collapse and three deaths in

people taking creatine, but there is no definitive evidence that creatine was

the cause. People with kidney disease or liver disease should avoid creatine.

Creatine supplements may cause asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing and

coughing, in some people.

People with McArdle's disease shouldn't use high doses of creatine because it

has been found to increase muscle pain.

There is some concern that oral creatine supplements are metabolized in the body

to a toxic waste product formaldehyde, which could potentially damage cells, DNA

molecules and blood vessels.

Pregnant or nursing women or children should not use creatine supplements.

One of the main safety concerns is that individuals using creatine to enhance

athletic performance or muscle mass, particularly adolescents, may exceed

recommended dosages and take it without supervision.

Possible Drug and Supplement Interactions

Because creatine could theoretically affect kidney function, it should not be

taken with prescription drugs that could also potentially affect the kidneys,

such as aminoglycoside antibiotics (Amikacin, tobramycin, Nebcin),

immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve).

Creatine supplements should not be taken with the herb ephedra because of

increased risk of side effects. There was one case of stroke in a person taking

creatine and ephedra. Although there was no definite link between the

combination of herbs and the stroke, it is best to avoid the combination.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/creatine/a/creatine.htm

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