BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory cytokine in heart failure patients (HF). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of creatine monohydrate and exercise on inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers among HF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: Intervention group which received 5 grams/day creatine monohydrate and exercised for 8 weeks; and control group which did not receive any interventions. Interleukine-6 (IL-6), high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) were measured at the start and end of the study for both groups. RESULTS: In total, 100 patients including 50 controls and 50 intervention group (54 male, mean EF of 34.2 +/- 10.5 and 52 male, mean EF of 35.6 +/- 12.7, respectively) were analyzed. The serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 increased at the end of the study in the control group compared to the baseline, (7.5 +/- 1.5 mg/L vs. 6.9 +/- 1.3 mg/L, P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of creatine monohydrate and exercise attenuated inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers among heart failure patients
