Creatine supplementation during pregnancy may protect against damage due to hypoxia

Over several years, Professor Rod Snow and Dr Aaron Russell from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutritional Research, in collaboration with researchers from Deakin University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Monash Medical Centre, have been investigating the role of creatine supplementation in reducing the effects of hypoxia during birth in mice.

Recently they demonstrated that providing pregnant mice with creatine from mid-pregnancy protected the major respiratory muscle i.e. the diaphragm, of the newborn spiny mouse from the effects of hypoxia.  Pregnant mice were fed either a control or 5% creatine-supplemented diet from mid-gestation. On the day before term, hypoxia was induced by isolating the pregnant uterus in a saline bath for 7.5–8 min before releasing and resuscitating the foetuses. Surviving pups were placed with a cross-foster dam, and diaphragm tissue was collected at 24-hour postnatal age.

Hypoxia caused a significant decrease in the cross-sectional area and contractile function of the diaphragm fibres. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the muscle mass-regulating genes MuRF1 and myostatin were significantly increased by two-fold. Maternal creatine significantly reduced hypoxia-induced fibre atrophy, contractile dysfunction, and changes in mRNA levels.

The results of this study indicate that creatine supplementation may be a useful maternal nutritional intervention to protect the vital organs of the new-born when exposed to hypoxia during birth.

References

1. Cannata DJ, Ireland Z, Dickinson H, Snow RJ, Russell AP, West JM, Walker DW. Maternal creatine supplementation from mid-pregnancy protects the newborn spiny mouse diaphragm from intrapartum hypoxia-induced damage. Pediatric Research. 2010;DOI: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181f1c048.
2. Ireland Z, Dickinson H, Snow R, Walker DW. Maternal creatine – does it reach the fetus and improve survival after an acute hypoxic episode in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2008. 198: 431.e1-431.e6, 2008.
3. Ireland Z, Russell AP, Wallimann T, Walker DW, Snow R. Developmental changes in the expression of creatine synthesizing enzymes and creatine transporter in a precocial rodent, the spiny mouse. BMC Developmental Biology. 2009; 9: 39.

Publication

Cannata DJ, Ireland Z, Dickinson H, Snow RJ, Russell AP, West JM, Walker DW. Maternal creatine supplementation from mid-pregnancy protects the newborn spiny mouse diaphragm from intrapartum hypoxia-induced damage. Pediatric Research. 2010;DOI: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181f1c048.