Effect of oral creatine supplementation on muscle [PCr] and short-term maximum power output

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997 Feb;29(2):216-9. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199702000-00008.

Abstract

Our purpose was to determine the effect of creatine supplementation on power output during a 30-s maximal cycling (Wingate) test. Nine males underwent 3 randomly ordered tests following ingestion of a creatine supplementation (CRE), placebo (PLA), and control (CON) CRE was ingested as creatine monohydrate (CrH2O) dissolved in a flavored drink (20g.d-1 for 3 d), while PLA consisted of the drink only. Tests were performed 14 d apart on a Monarch ergometer modified for immediate resistance loading. Needle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis at the end of each treatment period and before the exercise test. No difference was found between conditions for peak, mean 10-s, and mean 30-s power output, percent fatigue, or post-exercise blood lactate concentration. Similarly, no difference between conditions was observed for ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), or total creatine (TCr); however, the TCr/ATP was higher in the CRE condition (P < 0.05) than in the CON and PLA conditions. Findings suggest that 3 d of oral Cr supplementation does not increase resting muscle PCr concentration and has no effect on performance during a single short-term maximal cycling task.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Adult
  • Creatine / administration & dosage*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Phosphocreatine / metabolism*
  • Physical Fitness / physiology*

Substances

  • Phosphocreatine
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Creatine