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Dose–response effects of oral guanidinoacetic acid on serum creatine, homocysteine and B vitamins levels

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Abstract

Purpose

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of creatine (Cr), yet its use in human nutrition is limited due to a lack of a clear understanding of its’ dose–response effect. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of three different dosages of GAA (1.2, 2.4 and 4.8 g/day) administered for 6 weeks on serum and urinary variables related to GAA metabolism.

Methods

Forty-eight healthy volunteers participated in the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, repeated-measure study. At baseline, after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks, participants provided both fasting blood samples and 24-h urine.

Results

GAA intervention significantly increased serum and urinary GAA, Cr and creatinine as compared to placebo (P < 0.05). Differences were found for serum GAA and Cr responses between the three GAA dosages, with high-dose GAA resulting in a greater increase (P < 0.05) in the plasma concentration of both variables as compared to other GAA dosages. In GAA groups, fasting plasma total homocysteine (T-Hcy) increased by 3.5 μmol/L on average at post-administration, yet no dose–response differences were found between trials. Serum B vitamins were not affected by either placebo or GAA intervention (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Results indicate that low-to-high dosages of exogenous GAA can increase serum concentrations of Cr and T-Hcy while not depleting the B vitamins pool available for remethylation of homocysteine. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identification number NCT01133899.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant No. 175037 from Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological and Grant No. AN_85E_S09 from AlzChem AG. The authors thank the research participants for their dedication. We thank Dr. Radmila Vrzic and Dr. Nadezda Majkic for their assistance with biochemical data retrieval; Mirjana Stojanovic for statistical support; and the staff of the exercise physiology laboratory, Bojan Medjedovic, Dragoljub Veljovic, Kristina Kanostrevac and Milan Barbir. The authors are grateful for the technical and scientific advice provided by Dr. Barbara Niess (AlzChem AG, Trostberg).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Center for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Stari DIF, Deligradska 27, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Sergej M. Ostojic & Marko Stojanovic

  2. Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Sergej M. Ostojic, Marko Stojanovic & Patrik Drid

  3. Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Jay R. Hoffman

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  1. Sergej M. Ostojic
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  2. Marko Stojanovic
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Correspondence to Sergej M. Ostojic.

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Ostojic, S.M., Stojanovic, M., Drid, P. et al. Dose–response effects of oral guanidinoacetic acid on serum creatine, homocysteine and B vitamins levels. Eur J Nutr 53, 1637–1643 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0669-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0669-0

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