Dietary Supplements and Middle Aged Women (Creatine)

This study is looking for women aged between 35 and 65 years old who are generally healthy. You should not smoke and your body mass index (BMI) should be between 18 and 30. You also need to be either regularly active, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week plus muscle strengthening, or be generally less active but still do some daily movement like walking or household chores.

There are certain reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have a current injury to your muscles or bones, or if you have certain health conditions like heart disease, severe arthritis, diabetes, or cancer. If you've recently started or changed certain medications or hormone replacement therapy in the last 3 months, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you wouldn't be able to take part. Also, if you have any allergies to the study supplements, or if you're currently taking creatine and don't want to stop for the study, you wouldn't be eligible. It's also important that you're willing to keep your diet and activity levels much the same during the study.

If you join this study, you would first have a meeting where the researchers will explain everything and answer your questions. If you decide to go ahead, you'll give your permission to be part of the study. You'll also practice some simple thinking and memory tests.

Before your second main visit, you'll be asked to write down everything you eat and drink for three days. At your second main visit, which will be similar to your third visit, you'll fill out questionnaires about your exercise habits, quality of life, sleep, and any menopause symptoms. The research team will measure your height, body shape, blood pressure, and grip strength. A small blood sample will be taken to check for things like inflammation. You'll also rate any joint pain and how tired you feel using a simple scale, and describe how comfortable your digestion feels. After this visit, you'll be given your supplements (either creatine or a dummy pill) to take every day for 8 weeks, along with a log to track your intake. You'll also complete another food diary for 3 days before your final visit.

Your third and final visit will be 8 weeks after the second one and will involve repeating all the measurements and questionnaires from your second visit. The total time you'll be involved in the study from your first visit to your last will be around 9 weeks.