Creatine Supplementation During GLP-1a Therapy

A Pilot Study on Creatine Supplementation During Resistance-training for Prevention of Lean Tissue Mass Loss During GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy

GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective for weight loss, but significant muscle mass is lost as a proportion of this weight loss. This study combines resistance-training and creatine supplementation to try to prevent this loss of muscle mass.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Dietary supplementation during a 12 week resistance-training program (creatine); Dietary supplement: Dietary supplementation during a 12 week resistance-training program (placebo)

Detailed Description

GLP-1 receptor agonists are highly effective for weight loss and increasing in popularity for those trying to lose weight. One concern with these medications is the potential for loss of lean tissue mass during rapid weight loss. This may affect strength and functional performance in people taking these medications. Resistance-training helps to offset loss of muscle mass during weight loss. Supplementation with creatine monohydrate is also effective for improving muscle mass and strength. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the effectiveness of creatine supplementation during a resistance training program in people who are starting GLP-receptor agonist medication for preventing loss of lean tissue mass and functional performance. The investigators will randomize 40 people who are starting GLP-1 agonists to receive either 10g per day creatine or placebo during a resistance-training program (i.e., resistance-training three days per week for 12 weeks). It is hypothesized that participants on the creatine supplement will have superior maintenance of lean tissue mass and function performance compared to participants taking placebo.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Philip D Chilibeck, PhD; Phone Number: 306-966-1072; Email: phil.chilibeck@usask.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • SK - Saskatchewan
    • Saskatoon, SK - Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B2
      • Recruiting
      • University of Saskatchewan
      • Contact: Philip D Chilibeck, PhD; Phone Number: 306-966-1072; Email: phil.chilibeck@usask.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Starting GLP-1 agonist therapy
• 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• Positive answers to a screening questionnaire for physical activity safety (the Get Active Questionnaire)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Placebo (maltodextrin)	Dietary supplement: Dietary supplementation during a 12 week resistance-training program (placebo); Placebo
Experimental: Creatine; 10 grams per day creatine	Dietary supplement: Dietary supplementation during a 12 week resistance-training program (creatine); creatine supplementation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in sit to stand performance (number of times)	change in number of times sitting and standing in 30 seconds	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in 10 meter gait speed (m/s)	change in walking speed over 10 meters	12 weeks
Change in timed up and go (m/s)	change in time to stand up, walk 3m, turn, around, walk 3 m and sit down	12 weeks
Change in lean tissue mass (kg)	Change in lean tissue mass as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in fat mass (kg)	Change in fat mass as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in whole body bone mineral density (g/cm squared)	Change in bone mineral density as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in femoral neck bone mineral density (g/cm squared)	Change in bone mineral density as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in total hip bone mineral density (g/cm squared)	Change in bone mineral density as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in lumbar spine bone mineral density (g/cm squared)	Change in bone mineral density as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in hip section modulus (cm-cubed)	Change in hip section modulus as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in muscle thickness of the biceps (cm)	Change in muscle thickness measured by ultrasound	12 weeks
Change in muscle thickness of the quadriceps (cm)	Change in muscle thickness measured by ultrasound	12 weeks
Change in bench press strength (kg)	change in upper body strength measured by predicted one repetition maximum	12 weeks
Change in leg extension strength (kg)	Change in lower body strength measured by predicted one repetition maximum	12 weeks
Change in hip buckling ratio (ratio)	Change in hip buckling ratio as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in hip cross-sectional area (cm-squared)	Change in hip cross-sectional area as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks
Change in hip cortical thickness (cm)	Change in hip cortical thickness as determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Philip Chilibeck, PhD, University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 25, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Sarcopenia; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Organic Chemicals; Amino Acids; Guanidines; Amidines; Creatine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 6372

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No