Determining the Pharmacokinetics of Oral Creatine in Human Pregnancy

Abstract

Creatine monohydrate (CrM) is widely available as a nutritional supplement in Australia that mainly used as an ergogenic aid for sportsmen and women. Pre-clinical studies suggest dietary creatine supplementation during pregnancy may protect the fetus from acute in utero hypoxic events. While there is evidence to support the safety of creatine use in non-pregnant women of reproductive age, there is limited evidence on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of CrM in women of reproductive age and no information on the PK of CrM in pregnancy. To address these knowledge gaps safely, we have designed an open-label parallel-arm pharmacokinetic trial that will occur in three stages; where the first two stages will trial different CrM doses, starting with the lowest anticipated therapeutic dose. The third stage will trial the optimum dose (to be confirmed) over a multi-day period in the third trimester of pregnancy. Overall, This study will inform the optimum dosing of creatine monohydrate in late pregnancy (3rd trimester). This dosing regimen could be used in subsequent studies assessing the efficacy of maternal dietary creatine supplementation to improve pregnancy outcomes.