Effect of Creatine+HMB Supplementation in Physically Active Older Adults

Sarcopenia (SAR) is the loss of muscle strength and mass caused by aging. It is accompanied by a progressive decline in physical and cognitive abilities, increasing the risk of falls. This loss of muscle mass leads to pathophysiological changes at the neuromuscular and tendon levels as a consequence, among others, of alterations in the balance between protein synthesis and degradation, inflammation (INF), or alterations in the anabolic/catabolic state (ACS). These alterations are caused by oxidative stress (OS), when reactive oxygen species-toxic metabolites produced by cells using oxygen-exceed the defensive capacity of the antioxidant system. Therapeutic strategies to modulate SAR are based on exercise and nutrition programs. Multicomponent physical exercise programs have shown improvements in parameters related to sarcopenia. Likewise, the use of nutritional supplements such as creatine (CRE) has demonstrated improvements in muscle function in older adults. CRE may reduce INF and OS in the general population. On the other hand, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) also appears to improve muscle function in older adults by promoting myogenesis. However, the effects of these supplements in older adults have only been observed when used in isolation. In this regard, our research team observed that a 10-week regimen combining 3 g/day of CRE + 3 g/day of HMB (CRE-HMB) improved muscle recovery (better ACS) and physical performance in athletes subjected to high muscle wear. However, to date, it has not been determined whether this combination improves muscle function, OS, INF, and ACS in women with SAR. Therefore, the working hypothesis is that the CRE-HMB combination could improve muscle function and physical performance, as well as OS, INF, and ACS in individuals with high muscle loss, such as those with SAR. Thus, a randomized double-blind crossover study is proposed to analyze the effect of 12 weeks-6 weeks of intervention + 3 weeks of washout + 3 weeks of inte