Comparison of antihyperglycemic effects of creatine and metformin in type II diabetic patients

Purpose: To compare the antihyperglycemic effects of metformin and creatine in recently detected type II diabetics in a short-term clinical study. Methods: In a 14 day simmetrically randomized crossover study, recently detected type II diabetics received either creatine (2x3 g/day) or metformin (2x500 mg/day) for five days, followed by two days of washout, followed by cross-over to the opposite treatment for the next five days. Fasting and post-prandial (-15, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min) blood glucose, insulin, c-peptide, creatine and lactate were measured every other day for the duration of treatment, and HbA1c only at the begining and at the end of the study. Results: Both creatine and metformin decreased glucose concentrations to similar levels at all time points vs. basal glucose values [-15, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min]: 11.1±0.75 vs 9.1±0.55a vs 8.8±0.59b, 14.4±0.6 vs 12.9±0.47a vs 13.1±0.55a, 14.8±0.58 vs 13.0±0.46b vs 13.3±0.55a, 14.1±0.6 vs 11.9±0.42b vs 12.5±0.51a, 12.2±0.6 vs 9.6±0.36c vs 9.9±0.38c, and 10.1±0.47 vs 7.8±0.36c vs 8.4±0.4b; (aP < 0.05; bP < 0.01; cP < 0.001 vs. basal glucose values). Neither treatment altered insulin, c-peptide, or HbA1c. Lactate varied during the day, but never reached the upper level of the safety reference range. Conclusion: Short-term treatment with creatine and metformin elicits similar glucose lowering effects in recently detected type II diabetics. Further studies are necessary to determine the effect of creatine on long-term glucose and insulin regulation. Purpose: To compare the antihyperglycemic effects of metformin and creatine in recently detected type II diabetics in a short-term clinical study. Methods: In a 14 day simmetrically randomized crossover study, recently detected type II diabetics received either creatine (2x3 g/day) or metformin (2x500 mg/day) for five days, followed by two days of washout, followed by cross-over to the opposite treatment for the next five days. Fasting and post-prandial (-15, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min) blood glucose, insulin, c-peptide, creatine and lactate were measured every other day for the duration of treatment, and HbA1c only at the begining and at the end of the study. Results: Both creatine and metformin decreased glucose concentrations to similar levels at all time points vs. basal glucose values [-15, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min]: 11.1±0.75 vs 9.1±0.55a vs 8.8±0.59b, 14.4±0.6 vs 12.9±0.47a vs 13.1±0.55a, 14.8±0.58 vs 13.0±0.46b vs 13.3±0.55a, 14.1±0.6 vs 11.9±0.42b vs 12.5±0.51a, 12.2±0.6 vs 9.6±0.36c vs 9.9±0.38c, and 10.1±0.47 vs 7.8±0.36c vs 8.4±0.4b; (aP < 0.05; bP < 0.01; cP < 0.001 vs. basal glucose values). Neither treatment altered insulin, c-peptide, or HbA1c. Lactate varied during the day, but never reached the upper level of the safety reference range. Conclusion: Short-term treatment with creatine and metformin elicits similar glucose lowering effects in recently detected type II diabetics. Further studies are necessary to determine the effect of creatine on long-term glucose and insulin regulation