Influence of creatine supplementation on muscle mass and strength with resistance training: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Delpino, Figueiredo, Forbes, Candow & Santos (2022) · Clinical Nutrition

Topics: Muscle & Body Composition, Strength & Power

  • Study type: Meta-analysis
  • Population: Resistance-trained adults
  • Sample: 16+ RCTs pooled
  • Dose: 3-5 g/day with training
  • Duration: Varied
  • Published: 2022

What the study found

A modern meta-analysis confirming that combining creatine with resistance training produces greater increases in muscle mass and strength than resistance training alone, across a range of ages and populations.

Key findings

  • Greater gains in lean/muscle mass with creatine plus training versus training alone.
  • Greater strength improvements with the combination.
  • Consistent with decades of prior evidence.

The practical takeaway

Creatine plus lifting beats lifting alone — the single most reliable finding in the entire creatine literature.

View the original study on PubMed