Texas A&M study finds creatine may build muscle without exercise

A study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University suggests that creatine supplementation may help increase lean tissue and strength even in individuals who do not participate in regular exercise.

The 12-week trial involved 64 healthy, sedentary adults aged 45 to 65. Participants were divided into groups that either followed a supervised training program or maintained their usual sedentary lifestyle. Within these groups, individuals were randomly assigned to receive either 10 grams of creatine daily (split into two doses) or a placebo.

Results indicated that sedentary participants taking creatine gained approximately 1.1 kilograms (about 2.4 pounds) of lean tissue compared to the placebo group. These participants also showed improvements in strength tests, specifically in the bench press and leg press. The study noted that these results occurred despite a relatively low protein intake among participants. While the increase in lean tissue includes muscle, water, and other components, the findings offer potential implications for managing muscle loss associated with aging.