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1.
Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training on Area and Density of Bone and Muscle in Older Adults.
Candow, DG, Chilibeck, PD, Gordon, JJ, Kontulainen, S
Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2021;(11):2388-2395
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the efficacy of creatine (Cr) supplementation and any sex differences during supervised whole-body resistance training (RT) on properties of bone and muscle in older adults. METHODS Seventy participants (39 men, 31 women; mean age ± standard deviation: 58 ± 6 yr) were randomized to supplement with Cr (0.1 g·kg-1·d-1) or placebo (Pl) during RT (3 d·wk-1 for 1 yr). Bone geometry (radius and tibia) and muscle area and density (forearm and lower leg) were assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. RESULTS Compared with Pl, Cr increased or maintained total bone area in the distal tibia (Cr, Δ +17 ± 27 mm2; Pl, Δ -1 ± 22 mm2; P = 0.031) and tibial shaft (Cr, Δ 0 ± 9 mm2; Pl, Δ -5 ± 7 mm2; P = 0.032). Men on Cr increased trabecular (Δ +28 ± 31 mm2; P < 0.001) and cortical bone areas in the tibia (Δ +4 ± 4 mm2; P < 0.05), whereas men on Pl increased trabecular bone density (Δ +2 ± 2 mg·cm-3; P < 0.01). There were no bone changes in the radius (P > 0.05). Cr increased lower leg muscle density (Δ +0.83 ± 1.15 mg·cm-3; P = 0.016) compared with Pl (Δ -0.16 ± 1.56 mg·cm-3), with no changes in the forearm muscle. CONCLUSIONS One year of Cr supplementation and RT had some favorable effects on measures of bone area and muscle density in older adults.
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2.
Short-Term Creatine Loading Improves Total Work and Repetitions to Failure but Not Load-Velocity Characteristics in Strength-Trained Men.
Feuerbacher, JF, von Schöning, V, Melcher, J, Notbohm, HL, Freitag, N, Schumann, M
Nutrients. 2021;(3)
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of a 7-day creatine (CRE) supplementation on the load-velocity profile and repeated sub-maximal bouts in the deep squat using mean propulsive velocity (MPV) and mean propulsive power (MPP). Eleven strength-trained men (31.4 ± 5.4 years) supplemented 0.3 g·kg-1·d-1 CRE or a placebo (PLA, maltodextrin) for seven days in a randomized order, separated by a 30-day washout period. Prior to and after the supplementation, the subjects performed an incremental maximal strength (1RM) test, as well as 3 × 10 repetitions and a repetitions-to-failure test (RFT), all at 70% 1RM. Maximal strength remained statistically unaltered in CRE (p = 0.107) and PLA (p = 0.568). No statistical main effect for time (p = 0.780) or interaction (p = 0.737) was observed for the load-velocity profile. The number of repetitions during RFT remained statistically unaltered in both conditions (CRE: +16.8 ± 32.8%, p = 0.112; PLA: +8.2 ± 47.2%, p = 0.370), but the effect size was larger in creatine compared to placebo (g = 0.51 vs. g = 0.01). The total work during RFT increased following creatine supplementation (+23.1 ± 35.9%, p = 0.043, g = 0.70) but remained statistically unaltered in the placebo condition (+15.0 ± 60.8%, p = 0.801, g = 0.08; between conditions: p = 0.410, g = 0.25). We showed that CRE loading over seven days did not affect load-velocity characteristics but may have increased total work and power output during submaximal deep squat protocols, as was indicated by moderate effect sizes.
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3.
Guanidinoacetic acid loading for improved location-specific brain creatine.
Ostojic, SM
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2021;(1):324-326
Abstract
BACKGROUND We conducted here a secondary analysis of previously completed guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) loading trials categorizing participants into responders and non-responders using cut-off points for an increase in the location-specific levels of brain creatine (e.g. thalamus, cerebellum, white and grey matter). METHODS A total of 19 healthy men (mean age = 24.8 years) who were supplemented with 3 g/d of GAA for 4 weeks, with total brain creatine evaluated using 1.5 T magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were included in this report. RESULTS An average elevation in total creatine content after 28-day GAA loading was 17.3% in the cerebellum (95% confidence interval [CI] from 9.7 to 24.9), 12.1% in the white matter (95% CI from 5.1 to 19.1), and 8.9% in the grey matter (95% CI from 5.2 to 12.6), while total creatine actually dropped in the thalamus at a follow-up for 9.1% (95% CI from 6.8 to 11.4). The prevalence of responders was the highest for the cerebellum (73.6%), followed by the white matter (47.3%) and the grey matter (42.1%), while only two individuals (10.5%) experienced a relevant rise in the thalamus creatine content at 28-day follow-up (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This aftermath evaluation of previously published data suggests a relatively favorable (and location-specific) response rate to short-term GAA loading in healthy young men. A somewhat contrasting location-dependent pattern for GAA and creatine to positively affect brain creatine may be of great interest to the scientific community by dispensing different interventions to tackle poor bioenergetics in distinct brain regions.
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4.
Creatine Enhances the Effects of Cluster-Set Resistance Training on Lower-Limb Body Composition and Strength in Resistance-Trained Men: A Pilot Study.
Bonilla, DA, Kreider, RB, Petro, JL, Romance, R, García-Sillero, M, Benítez-Porres, J, Vargas-Molina, S
Nutrients. 2021;(7)
Abstract
Creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation has been shown to improve body composition and muscle strength when combined with resistance training (RT); however, no study has evaluated the combination of this nutritional strategy with cluster-set resistance training (CS-RT). The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of CrM supplementation during a high-protein diet and a CS-RT program on lower-limb fat-free mass (LL-FFM) and muscular strength. Twenty-three resistance-trained men (>2 years of training experience, 26.6 ± 8.1 years, 176.3 ± 6.8 cm, 75.6 ± 8.9 kg) participated in this study. Subjects were randomly allocated to a CS-RT+CrM (n = 8), a CS-RT (n = 8), or a control group (n = 7). The CS-RT+CrM group followed a CrM supplementation protocol with 0.1 g·kg-1·day-1 over eight weeks. Two sessions per week of lower-limb CS-RT were performed. LL-FFM corrected for fat-free adipose tissue (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and muscle strength (back squat 1 repetition maximum (SQ-1RM) and countermovement jump (CMJ)) were measured pre- and post-intervention. Significant improvements were found in whole-body fat mass, fat percentage, LL-fat mass, LL-FFM, and SQ-1RM in the CS-RT+CrM and CS-RT groups; however, larger effect sizes were obtained in the CS-RT+CrM group regarding whole body FFM (0.64 versus 0.16), lower-limb FFM (0.62 versus 0.18), and SQ-1RM (1.23 versus 0.75) when compared to the CS-RT group. CMJ showed a significant improvement in the CS-RT+CrM group with no significant changes in CS-RT or control groups. No significant differences were found between groups. Eight weeks of CrM supplementation plus a high-protein diet during a CS-RT program has a higher clinical meaningfulness on lower-limb body composition and strength-related variables in trained males than CS-RT alone. Further research might study the potential health and therapeutic effects of this nutrition and exercise strategy.
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5.
Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Functional Capacity and Muscle Oxygen Saturation in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Pilot Study of a Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
Domingues, WJR, Ritti-Dias, RM, Cucato, GG, Wolosker, N, Zerati, AE, Puech-Leão, P, Coelho, DB, Nunhes, PM, Moliterno, AA, Avelar, A
Nutrients. 2021;(1)
Abstract
The aim of the study was to verify the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on functional capacity (walking capacity; primary outcome) and calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) (secondary outcome) in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. Twenty-nine patients, of both sexes, were randomized (1:1) in a double-blind manner for administration of placebo (PLA, n = 15) or creatine monohydrate (Cr, n = 14). The supplementation protocol consisted of 20 g/day for 1 week divided into four equal doses (loading phase), followed by single daily doses of 5 g in the subsequent 7 weeks (maintenance phase). Functional capacity (total walking distance) was assessed by the 6 min walk test, and calf muscle StO2 was assessed through near infrared spectroscopy. The measurements were collected before and after loading and after the maintenance phase. The level of significance was p < 0.05. No significant differences were found for function capacity (total walking distance (PLA: pre 389 ± 123 m vs. post loading 413 ± 131 m vs. post maintenance 382 ± 99 m; Cr: pre 373 ± 149 m vs. post loading 390 ± 115 m vs. post maintenance 369 ± 115 m, p = 0.170) and the calf muscle StO2 parameters (p > 0.05). Short- and long-term Cr supplementation does not influence functional capacity and calf muscle StO2 parameters in patients with symptomatic PAD.
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6.
The effect of multi-ingredient intra- versus extra-cellular buffering supplementation combined with branched-chain amino acids and creatine on exercise-induced ammonia blood concentration and aerobic capacity in taekwondo athletes.
Durkalec-Michalski, K, Kusy, K, Główka, N, Zieliński, J
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2021;(1):48
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the effect of multi-ingredient intra- (BA) versus extra- (ALK) cellular buffering factor supplementation, combined with the customary intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and creatine malate (TCM), on body composition, exercise variables, and biochemical and hematological parameters in 9 elite taekwondo athletes. METHODS Eight-week randomized double-blind crossover BA (5.0 g·day-1 of β-alanine) versus ALK (0.07 g·kgFFM-1·day-1 of sodium bicarbonate) supplementation combined with BCAA (0.2 g·kgFFM-1·day-1) and TCM (0.05 g·kgFFM-1·day-1) during a standard 8-week taekwondo training period was implemented. In the course of the experiment, body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry), aerobic capacity (ergospirometric measurements during an incremental treadmill test until exhaustion), and exercise blood biomarkers concentrations were measured. Data were analyzed using repeated measures within-between interaction analysis of variance with the inclusion of experimental supplementation order. RESULTS The maximum post-exercise blood ammonia concentration decreased in both groups after supplementation (from 80.3 ± 10.6 to 72.4 ± 10.2 µmol∙L-1, p = 0.013 in BA; from 81.4 ± 8.7 to 74.2 ± 8.9 µmol∙L-1, p = 0.027 in ALK), indicating reduced exercise-related adenosine triphosphate degradation. However, no differences were found in body composition, aerobic capacity, blood lactate concentration, and hematological parameters after neither BA (combined with BCAA and TCM) nor ALK (combined with BCAA and TCM) supplementation. CONCLUSIONS In highly trained taekwondo athletes, neither extra- nor intracellular buffering enhancement resulting from BA and ALK supplementation, combined with BCAA and TCM treatment, affects body mass and composition, maximum oxygen uptake, and hematological indices, even though certain advantageous metabolic adaptations can be observed.
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7.
Guanidinoacetate-Creatine Supplementation Improves Functional Performance and Muscle and Brain Bioenergetics in the Elderly: A Pilot Study.
Seper, V, Korovljev, D, Todorovic, N, Stajer, V, Ostojic, J, Nesic, N, Ostojic, SM
Annals of nutrition & metabolism. 2021;(4):244-247
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8.
Creatine Supplementation (3 g/d) and Bone Health in Older Women: A 2-Year, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
Sales, LP, Pinto, AJ, Rodrigues, SF, Alvarenga, JC, Gonçalves, N, Sampaio-Barros, MM, Benatti, FB, Gualano, B, Rodrigues Pereira, RM
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2020;(5):931-938
Abstract
BACKGROUND Creatine supplementation could be a nonexpensive, safe, and effective dietary intervention to counteract bone loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether long-term creatine supplementation can improve bone health in older, postmenopausal women. METHODS A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized trial was conducted between November 2011 and December 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two hundred postmenopausal women with osteopenia were randomly allocated to receive either creatine monohydrate (3 g/d) or placebo for 2 years. At baseline and after 12 and 24 months, we assessed areal bone mineral density (aBMD; primary outcome), lean and fat mass (through dual X-ray absorptiometry), volumetric BMD and bone microarchitecture parameters, biochemical bone markers, physical function and strength, and the number of falls and fractures. Possible adverse effects were self-reported. RESULTS Lumbar spine (p < .001), femoral neck (p < .001), and total femur aBMD (p = .032) decreased across time; however, no interaction effect was observed (all p > .050). Bone markers, microarchitecture parameters, and the number of falls/fractures were not changed with creatine (all p > .050). Lean mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass increased throughout the intervention (p < .001), with no additive effect of creatine (p = .731 and p = .397, respectively). Creatine did not affect health-related laboratory parameters. CONCLUSION Creatine supplementation more than 2 years did not improve bone health in older, postmenopausal women with osteopenia, nor did it affect lean mass or muscle function in this population. This refutes the long-lasting notion that this dietary supplement alone has osteogenic or anabolic properties in the long run. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT: 01472393.
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9.
The addition of β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) to creatine monohydrate supplementation does not improve anthropometric and performance maintenance across a collegiate rugby season.
Mangine, GT, VanDusseldorp, TA, Hester, GM, Julian, JM, Feito, Y
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2020;(1):28
Abstract
BACKGROUND Muscular damage sustained while playing rugby may hinder performance across a season. β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) may help attenuate muscle damage and maintain lean mass and performance. This study sought to determine the effect of combining HMB with creatine monohydrate supplementation on measures of stress and muscle damage, body composition, strength and sprinting kinetics throughout a rugby season. METHODS This double-blind, cross-over investigation recruited 16 male collegiate rugby players to provide resting blood samples and complete assessments of body composition, strength and sprinting performance prior to their fall season (PREFALL). After testing, the athletes were matched for fat-free mass and assigned to consume one of two supplementation regimens for 6 weeks: 5 g HMB + 5 g creatine per day (HMB-Cr: 20.9 ± 1.1 years; 177 ± 2 cm; 88.4 ± 4.9 kg) or 5 g creatine + 5 g placebo per day (Cr: 21.4 ± 2.1 years; 179 ± 2 cm; 88.3 ± 4.9 kg). After 6 weeks (POSTFALL), PREFALL testing was repeated in 13 of the original 16 athletes before a 10-wk wash-out period. Athletes who returned for the spring season (n = 8) repeated all fall-season procedures and testing prior to (PRESPRING) and following (POSTSPRING) their 6-wk spring season, except they were assigned to the opposite supplementation regimen. RESULTS Linear mixed models with repeated measures revealed group x time interactions (p < 0.05) for observed for several measures but did not consistently and positively favor one group. During the fall season, knee extensor peak torque was reduced by 40.7 ± 28.1 Nm (p = 0.035) for HMB-Cr but remained consistent for Cr, and no group differences or changes were noted in the spring. In the spring, greater knee flexor rate of torque development (~ 149 Nm·sec- 1, p = 0.003) and impulse (~ 4.5 Nm·sec, p = 0.022) were observed in Cr at PRESPRING but not at POSTSPRING. Although significant interactions were found for cortisol concentrations, vastus lateralis pennation angle, and sprinting force, post-hoc analysis only revealed differences between fall and spring seasons. No other differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS The combination of HMB and creatine monohydrate supplementation does not provide a greater ergogenic benefit compared to creatine monohydrate supplementation alone. Body composition, strength, and sprinting ability did not change across the season with creatine monohydrate supplementation.
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10.
Can Creatine Combat the Mental Fatigue-associated Decrease in Visuomotor Skills?
VAN Cutsem, J, Roelands, B, Pluym, B, Tassignon, B, Verschueren, JO, DE Pauw, K, Meeusen, R
Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2020;(1):120-130
Abstract
PURPOSE The importance of the brain in sports was recently confirmed by the negative effect of mental fatigue (MF) on sport-specific psychomotor skills. Creatine supplementation improves strength but can also improve cognitive functioning. To explore the role of creatine in combating MF, we evaluated whether creatine supplementation counteracts the MF-associated impairment in sport-specific psychomotor skills. METHODS In 23°C, 14 healthy participants (4 females, 10 males; mean ± SD, age = 24 ± 3 yr, mass = 74 ± 13 kg, height = 179 ± 9 cm) performed a 90-min mentally fatiguing task (counterbalanced, crossover, and double-blinded; i.e., Stroop task) in two different conditions: after a 7-d creatine supplementation (CR; 20 g·d) and after a 7-d calcium lactate supplementation (placebo [PLAC]), separated by a 5-wk washout. In both conditions, a 7-min sport-specific visuomotor task, a dynamic handgrip strength endurance task, and a 3-min Flanker task was performed before and after the mentally fatiguing task. Physiological and perceptual responses were measured throughout the protocol. RESULTS Handgrip strength endurance was higher in CR compared with PLAC (P = 0.022). MF impaired visuomotor response time (+4.4%; P = 0.022) and Flanker accuracy (-5.0%; P = 0.009) in both conditions. Accuracy on the Stroop task was higher in CR compared with PLAC (+4.9%; P = 0.026). Within the perceptual and physiological parameters, only motivation and vigor (P ≤ 0.027) were lower in CR compared with PLAC. CONCLUSION Creatine supplementation improved physical (strength endurance) and prolonged cognitive (Stroop accuracy) performance, yet it did not combat MF-induced impairments in short sport-specific psychomotor or cognitive (Flanker) performance. These results warrant further investigation in the potential role of creatine in combating the MF-associated decrements in prolonged (e.g., 90-min soccer game) sport performance and suggest a role of brain phosphocreatine in MF.