Summary: | The aim of the study was to verify the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on functional capacity (walking capacity; primary outcome) and calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO<sub>2</sub>) (secondary outcome) in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. Twenty-nine patients, of both sexes, were randomized (1:1) in a double-blind manner for administration of placebo (PLA, <i>n</i> = 15) or creatine monohydrate (Cr, <i>n</i> = 14). The supplementation protocol consisted of 20 g/day for 1 week divided into four equal doses (loading phase), followed by single daily doses of 5 g in the subsequent 7 weeks (maintenance phase). Functional capacity (total walking distance) was assessed by the 6 min walk test, and calf muscle StO<sub>2</sub> was assessed through near infrared spectroscopy. The measurements were collected before and after loading and after the maintenance phase. The level of significance was <i>p</i> < 0.05. No significant differences were found for function capacity (total walking distance (PLA: pre 389 ± 123 m vs. post loading 413 ± 131 m vs. post maintenance 382 ± 99 m; Cr: pre 373 ± 149 m vs. post loading 390 ± 115 m vs. post maintenance 369 ± 115 m, <i>p</i> = 0.170) and the calf muscle StO<sub>2</sub> parameters (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Short- and long-term Cr supplementation does not influence functional capacity and calf muscle StO<sub>2</sub> parameters in patients with symptomatic PAD.
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