Creatine supplementation and health variables: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Long-term safety of creatine supplementation has been questioned. This retrospective study was performed to examine markers related to health, the incidence of reported side effects and the perceived training benefits in athletes supplementing with creatine monohydrate. METHODS: Twenty-six athletes (18 M and 8 F, 24.7 +/- 9.2 y; 82.4 +/- 20.0 kg; 176.5 +/- 8.8 cm) from various sports were used as subjects. Blood was collected between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. after a 12-h fast. Standard clinical examination was performed for CBC and 27 blood chemistries. Testosterone, cortisol, and growth hormone were analyzed using an ELISA. Subjects answered a questionnaire on dietary habits, creatine supplementation, medical history, training history, and perceived effects of supplementation. Body mass was measured using a medical scale, body composition was estimated using skinfolds, and resting heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. Subjects were grouped by supplementation length or no use: Gp1 (control) = no use (N = 7; 3 F, 4 M); Gp2 = 0.8-1.0 yr (N = 9; 2 F, 7 M); and Gp3 = 1(+) (N = 10; 3 F, 7 M). RESULTS: Creatine supplementation ranged from 0.8--4 yr. Mean loading dose for Gp2 and Gp3 was 13.7 +/- 10.0 and the maintenance dose was 9.7 +/- 5.7 g.d(-)1. Group differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. CONCLUSIONS: Expected gender differences were observed. Of the comparisons made among supplementation groups, only two differences for creatinine and total protein (P < 0.05) were noted. All group means fell within normal clinical ranges. There were no differences in the reported incidence of muscle injury, cramps, or other side effects. These data suggest that long-term creatine supplementation does not result in adverse health effects.

Effects of in-season (5 weeks) creatine and pyruvate supplementation on anaerobic performance and body composition in American football players.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the efficacy of two dietary supplements on measures of body mass, body composition, and performance in 42 American football players. Group CM (n = 9) received creatine monohydrate, Group P (n = 11) received calcium pyruvate, Group COM (n = 11) received a combination of calcium pyruvate (60%) and creatine (40%), and Group PL received a placebo. Tests were performed before (T1) and after (T2) the 50 week supplementation period, during which the subjects continued their normal training schedules. Compared to P and PL, CM and COM showed significantly greater increases for body mass, lean body mass, 1 repetition maximum (RM) bench press, combined 1 RM squat and bench press, and static vertical jump (SVJ) power output. Peak rate of force development for SVJ was significantly greater for CM compared to P and PL. Creatine and the combination supplement enhanced training adaptations associated with body mass/composition, maximum strength, and SVJ; however, pyruvate supplementation alone was ineffective.

Effect of weight training exercise and treadmill exercise on post-exercise oxygen consumption.

Effect of weight training exercise and treadmill exercise on postexercise oxygen consumption. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 518-522, 1998. To compare the effect of weight training (WT) and treadmill (TM) exercise on postexercise oxygen consumption (VO2), 15 males (mean +/- SD) age = 22.7 +/- 1.6 yr; height = 175.0 +/- 6.2 cm; mass = 82.0 +/- 14.3 kg) performed a 27-min bout of WT and a 27-min bout of TM exercise at matched rates of VO2. WT consisted of performing two circuits of eight exercises at 60% of each subject's one repetition maximum with a work/rest ratio of 45 s/60 s. Approximately 5 d after WT each subject walked or jogged on the TM at a pace that elicited an average VO2 matched with his mean value during WT. VO2 was measured continuously during exercise and the first 30 min into recovery and at 60 and 90 min into recovery. VO2 during WT (1.58 L.min-1) and TM exercise (1.55 L.min-1) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different; thus the two activities were matched for VO2. Total oxygen consumption during the first 30 min of recovery was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as a result of WT (19.0 L) compared with that during TM exercise (12.7 L). However, VO2 values at 60 (0.32 vs 0.29 L.min-1), and 90 min (0.33 vs 0.30 L.min-1) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between WT and TM exercise, respectively. The results suggest that, during the first 30 min following exercise. WT elicits a greater elevated postexercise VO2 than TM exercise when the two activities are performed at matched VO2 and equal durations. Therefore, total energy expenditure as a consequence of WT will be underestimated if based on exercise VO2 only.