All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been
re-written in plain English and may contain errors. I am
not a doctor
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Creatine To Improve Strength In Older Healthy Men

Older people suffer a "natural" loss of muscle strength
and explosive power. We studied the effect of creatine
supplements for 7 days in normally active older men from 59
to 72 years of age. This was a double-blind, placebo-
controlled trial.
	After a 3-week learning period, tests were done 3
times with 7 days between each test - T1, T2, and T3. After
T1, men were randomly put into a creatine (10 men) or
placebo (8 men) group.
	After T2, the men took creatine at 300mg per kg of
body weight each day until T3 (about 25g for a 185 pound
man - that's a high dose - I take 7g daily).
	All men were tested for maximum dynamic strength
using one-repetition maximum leg press and bench press.
They were tested for maximum isometric strength using leg
extension. They were tested for explosive power using
sprints on a bicycle machine. Leg function was tested
using a timed sit-stand test.
	Body composition was measured using water weighing
(very accurate) and blood samples were tested to measure
kidney and liver function.

From T1 to T2, no real differences were seen. From T2 to T3,
creatine men had increased body mass (+1.86 versus -1.01 kg),
increased fat-free mass (+2.22 versus 0 kg), maximum dynamic
strength (7 versus one %), maximum isometric strength (+12
versus -3%), lower-body power (11 versus 0%), and leg
function (7 versus one %). No bad side effects were seen.
	This study shows that 7 days of creatine supplements
improve muscle performance in older men without any
noticeable side effects. Taking creatine supplements may
help older adults reduce the loss in muscle strength that
comes with aging.

Source:  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 Mar;34(3):537-43.
Title:   Creatine supplementation improves muscular
         performance in older men.
Authors: Gotshalk LA, Volek JS, Staron RS, Denegar CR,
         Hagerman FC, Kraemer WJ.
PMID: 11880821.