Dr. Darren Candow

But if you do perform weightlifting, one of the very cool things in postmenopausal females is that creatine seem to reduce the rate of bone mineral density loss around the hip region.

So it didn't increase bone density, but it decreased bone density loss.

And it also seemed to maintain or improve the structure of the bone a little bit more.

So that has profound beneficial effects, especially as we get older.

If those individuals on creatine were to fall, maybe they might not fracture their hip.

And as we both know, if you fracture your hip, you're going to be placed in long-term care.

You're going to be inactive for at least six months.

So creatine has some bone benefits.

They're not great.

They don't improve bone density, so they're not going to be an osteoporotic cure.

But there is something there, especially if you're prone to osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Yeah, it's very interesting.

So if you understand a 24-hour cycle, that creatine sort of stimulates these bone-building cells to become more energized.

Think of Super Mario, the original Nintendo, when he got the mushroom, he became energized.

Creatine does that as well.

And then on the flip side...

Creatine seems to decrease the osteoclasts or bone breakdown cells.

So by a synergistic mechanism, it seems to cause this turnover to go a little bit better, causing the bone to maintain its structure.

It's very similar to a bisphosphonate that someone would be taking to maintain their bone health.

Yeah, it's a drug that a lot of individuals will take if they're prone to bone loss.