The effect of combined supplementation of carbohydrates and creatine on anaerobic performance

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of creatine (Cr) supplementation on anaerobic performance when ingesting creatine and carbohydrates (CHO) together. Twenty male physical education students comprised the two experimental (CR and CRCHO) and one control (CON) groups of the study. All groups performed three 30 s anaerobic Wingate tests (AWTs) interspersed with 6 minutes of recovery. The CR group (n = 7) ingested 5 g of Cr 5 times per day for 4 days. Subjects in the CRCHO group (n = 6) ingested the same quantity but additionally after each 5 g dose of Cr consumed 500 ml of a commercially available energy drink containing 100 g of simple sugars. Over all three AWTs average mean power improved significantly compared to baseline for the CR group (5.51%) but not for the CRCHO group (3.06%). Mean power for the second AWT was improved following the acute loading for the CR group only (4.54%) and for the third AWT for both CR (8.49%) and CRCHO (5.75%) groups. Over all three AWTs a significant change was recorded in average peak power following the acute loading for the CR group (8.26%) but not for the CRCHO group (4.11%). Peak power was significantly improved following the loading only for the CR group during the third AWT (19.79%). No changes in AWT performance were recorded for the CON group after intervention. The findings of the present study suggest that ingesting creatine together with carbohydrates will not further improve performance compared to the ingestion of creatine only.

[1]  H. Roschel,et al.  Creatine supplementation spares muscle glycogen during high intensity intermittent exercise in rats , 2010, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

[2]  P. Greenhaff,et al.  Optimization of insulin-mediated creatine retention during creatine feeding in humans , 2010, Journal of sports sciences.

[3]  R. Kreider,et al.  Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Creatine Supplementation and Exercise a Position Statement and Review of the Literature Creatine Supplementation and Exercise: a Review of the Literature , 2007 .

[4]  C. Cooke,et al.  Incorrect calculation of power outputs masks the ergogenic capacity of creatine supplementation. , 2006, Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme.

[5]  Apostolos S. Theodorou,et al.  EFFECTS OF ACUTE CREATINE LOADING WITH OR WITHOUT CARBOHYDRATE ON REPEATED BOUTS OF MAXIMAL SWIMMING IN HIGH‐PERFORMANCE SWIMMERS , 2005, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[6]  B. Chance,et al.  Creatine supplementation enhances anaerobic ATP synthesis during a single 10 sec maximal handgrip exercise , 2003, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.

[7]  W. Derave,et al.  Creatine supplementation in health and disease: What is the evidence for long-term efficacy? , 2003, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.

[8]  R. Kreider.  Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations , 2003, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.

[9]  K. Havenetidis,et al.  Creatine supplementation: effects on urinary excretion and anaerobic performance. , 2003, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[10]  Apostolos S. Theodorou,et al.  The use of varying creatine regimens on sprint cycling. , 2003, Journal of sports science & medicine.

[11]  M. Tarnopolsky,et al.  Effect of alpha-lipoic acid combined with creatine monohydrate on human skeletal muscle creatine and phosphagen concentration. , 2003, International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism.

[12]  W. Kraemer,et al.  Creatine Supplementation Increases Total Body Water Without Altering Fluid Distribution. , 2003, Journal of athletic training.

[13]  C. Earnest,et al.  Differences in creatine retention among three nutritional formulations of oral creatine supplements , 2003 .

[14]  C. Irvin,et al.  Exercise Physiology , 2003, Springer New York.

[15]  P. Lemon.  Dietary creatine supplementation and exercise performance: why inconsistent results? , 2002, Canadian journal of applied physiology = Revue canadienne de physiologie appliquee.

[16]  L. Arsac,et al.  Effect of creatine supplementation on phosphocreatine resynthesis, inorganic phosphate accumulation and pH during intermittent maximal exercise , 2002, Journal of sports sciences.

[17]  P. Greenhaff,et al.  Protein- and carbohydrate-induced augmentation of whole body creatine retention in humans. , 2000, Journal of applied physiology.

[18]  W. M. Sherman,et al.  Reliability of power output during intermittent high-intensity cycling. , 1999, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[19]  I. Macdonald,et al.  Stimulatory effect of insulin on creatine accumulation in human skeletal muscle. , 1998, American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism.

[20]  A. Nelson,et al.  Creatine supplementation enhances intermittent work performance. , 1997, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[21]  I. Macdonald,et al.  Carbohydrate ingestion augments skeletal muscle creatine accumulation during creatine supplementation in humans. , 1996, The American journal of physiology.

[22]  I. Macdonald,et al.  Carbohydrate ingestion augments creatine retention during creatine feeding in humans. , 1996, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[23]  D. Constantin-Teodosiu,et al.  Creatine ingestion favorably affects performance and muscle metabolism during maximal exercise in humans. , 1996, The American journal of physiology.

[24]  S. Lawrence,et al.  Effects of oral creatine loading on single and repeated maximal short sprints. , 1995, Australian journal of science and medicine in sport.

[25]  E Hultman,et al.  Effect of oral creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle phosphocreatine resynthesis. , 1994, The American journal of physiology.

[26]  E Hultman,et al.  Elevation of creatine in resting and exercised muscle of normal subjects by creatine supplementation. , 1992, Clinical science.

[27]  B. G. Blijenberg,et al.  Assessment of a Selected Method for Creatinine with Special Emphasis on Bilirubin Interference , 1991, European journal of clinical chemistry and clinical biochemistry : journal of the Forum of European Clinical Chemistry Societies.

[28]  H K Lakomy,et al.  Measurement of work and power output using friction-loaded cycle ergometers. , 1986, Ergonomics.

[29]  C. L. Andrew,et al.  Effect of Insulin on the Uptake of Creatine-1-14C by Skeletal Muscle in Normal and X-Irradiated Rats 1 , 1972, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

[30]  H. Hohorst.  l-(+)-Lactate: Determination with Lactic Dehydrogenase and DPN , 1965 .