Grant: Undergraduate: Mobility, musculoskeletal health and arthritis - ICS

Osteoporosis is an important health problem, costing the Canadian health care system over $2 billion per year. Loss of bone mineral and bone fragility is especially prevalent in postmenopausal women. Of all osteoporotic fractures, hip fractures are the most traumatic. Creatine monohydrate is a nutritional supplement that is often combined with strength training to increase strength and muscle mass. Our pilot study showed that creatine monohydrate significantly improved hip bone mineral density in a small number of postmenopausal women during a 1-year resistance training program. We now want to determine whether creatine combined with strength training can have an even larger effect on bone mineral density at the hip if given over 2 years in a larger group of postmenopausal women (n=240). We also want to determine whether this leads to reduced fractures in these women for up to a year after completing the creatine and strength training program. Our research will provide new evidence about possible ways to reduce the sometimes devastating impacts of osteoporosis, and will be useful to guide health care practice.