CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION DOES NOT IMPROVE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN A 150 M RACE

Creatine supplementation has been shown by several authors to improve physical performance in very high intensity, intermittent, exercises. The effect on performance, as well as in plasma creatine and lactate c oncentrations has been studied in a group of twelve sprinters of natio nal class when running a distance of 150 m on two occasions, before an d after creatine (or placebo) supplementation for the previous three d ays. The most important differences in the biochemical parameters anal yzed have been in plasma creatinine concentration, which increased sub stantially both before and after the race in the group that had receiv ed a daily supplement of 25 grams of creatine monohydrate for the prev ious three days. Creatine supplementation, therefore, did not improve physical performance, in the conditions, when running a 150 m distance .