Creatine supplementation - Part I: Performance, clinical chemistry, and muscle volume

Purpose: Our purpose was to study the effects and side effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on high-intensity, short-term muscle work, on biochemi cal parameters related to Cr metabolism in blood and urine, and on muscle v olume of the lower limb muscles. Methods: A cycling ergometer was used in a double-blind, cross-over study o n 10 well-trained male physical education students to measure physical perf ormance with 10 repetitive ergometer sprints (6-s duration, 30-s rest) befo re and after supplementation (5 d, 20 g.d(-1), washout period 61 +/- 8 d me an +/- SEM, minimum 28 d) with Cr or placebo. Before and after supplementat ion, blood and urine were taken and the muscle volume of the lower limb was determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: 4 significant (P much less than 0.05) increase in performance (+ 7 %) at the end [4-6 s] of the later sprints (4-7 and 8-10) was observed comb ined with a lower production of blood lactate (- 1 mmol.L-1) with Cr supple mentation. The concentration of Cr was increased significantly in urine (P < 0.001) and serum (P = 0.005), whereas creatinine (Crn) was increased in s erum (P < 0.001). Crn in urine and Crn clearance did not change significant ly with Cr intake. There were no significant changes in the analyzed blood enzyme activities. A significant gain of body weight (pre-Cr 76.5 +/- 1.7 k g to 77.9 +/- 1.7 kg post-Cr) with Cr supplementation was measured, but no accompanying increase of muscle mass in a Limited volume of the lower limb was observed by MRI. Conclusion: Cr supplementation is effective in improving short-term perform ance. and the methods used show no detrimental side effects with this suppl ementation protocol.