The aim of the study was to determine whether creatine malate (CML) supplementation results in similar ergogenic effect in sprinters and long-distance runners. The other goal was to compare changes in body composition, physical performance and hormone levels after six-week training in athletes, divided into subgroups supplemented with creatine malate or taking placebo.
Six-week supplementation combined with physical training induced different effects in athletes. Significantly higher increases in relative and absolute peak power and total work (p < 0.05) were found in sprinters compared to other groups. Except for growth hormone, post-exercise venous blood serum hormone levels exhibited no statistically significant differences in athletes. After CML loading period, a significant increase in growth hormone was found in the group of sprinters.
A significant ergogenic effect was found in sprinters, which was reflected by the increase in anaerobic exercise indices and morphological indices and elevated growth hormone level, after graded exercise testing. The significant increase in the distance covered during graded test was only observed in supplemented long-distance runners, whereas no significant changes in maximal oxygen uptake, relative peak power and relative total work were noticed. This could be caused by later anaerobic threshold appearance in exercise test to exhaustion.
Ahmun RP , Tong RJ, Grimshaw PN: The effects of acute creatine supplementation in multiple sprint cycling and running performance in rugby players. J. Strength Cond. Res. 19 (1), 92–97 (2005)
Balsom PD , Harridge SDR, Söderlund K, Sjödin B, Ekblom B: Creatine supplementation per se does not enhance endurance exercise performance. Acta Physiol. Scand. 149, 521–523 (1993)
Bar-Or O : The Wingate anaerobic test: An update on methodology, reliability, and validity. Sports Med. 4, 381–394 (1987)
Bemben MG , Bemben DA, Loftiss DD, Knehans AW: Creatine supplementation during resistance training in college football athletes. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 33 (10), 1667–1673 (2001)
Bemben MG , Lamont HS: Creatine supplementation and exercise performance. Sports Med. 35 (2), 107–125 (2005)
Bemben MG , Witten MS, Carter JM, Eliot KA, Knehans AW, Bemben DA: The effect of supplementation with creatine and protein on muscle strength following a traditional resistance training program in middle-aged and older men. J. Nutr. Health Aging 14 (2), 155–159 (2010)
Birch R , Noble D, Greenhaff PL: The influence of dietary creatine suplementation on performance during repeated bouts of maximal isokinetic cycling in men. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol. 69 (3), 268–276 (1994)
Candow DG , Chilibeck PD, Chad KE, Chrusch MJ, Davison KS, Burke DG: Effect of ceasing creatine supplementation while maintaning resistance training in older men. J. Aging Phys. Activ. 12, 219–231 (2004)
Chwalbińska-Moneta J : Effect of creatine supplementation on aerobic performance and anaerobic capacity in elite rowers in the course of endurance training. Int. J. Nutr. Exerc. Metab. 13 (2), 173–183 (2003)
Dill DB , Costill DL: Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. J. Appl. Physiol. 37, 247–248 (1974)
Fukuda DH , Smith AE, Kendall KL, Dwyer TR, Kersick CM, Beck TW, Cramer JT, Stout JR: The effect of creatine loading and gender on anaerobic running capacity. J. Strength Cond. Res. 24 (7), 1826–1833 (2010)
Greenhaff PL : The influence of oral creatine supplementation on muscle torque during repeated bouts of maximal voluntary exercise in men. Clin. Sci. 84, 565–571 (1993)
Greenhaff PL , Bodin K, Soderlund K, Hultman E: Effect of oral creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle PCr resynthesis. Am. J. Physiol. 266, 725–730 (1994)
Greenhaff PL : : Creatine: its role in physical performance and fatigue and its application as a sports food supplement. Int. J. Sport Nutr. 5 (suppl), 100 (1995)
Harris RC , Soderlund K, Hultman E: Elevation of creatine in resting and exercised muscle of normal subjects by creatine supplementation. Clin. Sci. 83 (3), 367–374 (1992)
Harrison NH , Graveney MJ, Cochrane LA: Some sources of error in the calculation of relative change in plasma volume. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol. 50, 13–211 (1982)
Hiruntrakul A , Nanagara R, Emasithi A, Borer KT: Effect of endurance exercise on resting testosterone levels in sedentary subjects. Centr. Eur. J. Pub. Health. 18 (3), 169–172 (2010)
Hultman E , Greenhaff PL, Ren JM, Soderlund K: Energy metabolism and fatigue during intense muscle contraction. Biochem. Soc. Tran. 19, 347–353 (1991)
Hunter A : The physiology of creatine and creatinine. Physiol. Rev. 2, 586–599 (1922)
Katz A , Sahlin K, Henriksson J: Muscle ATP turnover rate during isometric contraction in humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 60, 1839–1842 (1986)
Kreider RB , Melton C, Rasmusen CJ, Greenwood M, Lancaster S, Cantler EC, Milnor P, Almada AL: Long-term creatine supplementation does not significantly affect clinical markers of healt in athletes. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 244, 95–104 (2003)
Kunachowicz H , Nadolna I, PrzygodaB, IwanowK (2008): Tables of nutritional values in foods. PZWL, Warszawa
Kurosawa Y , Hamaoka T, Katsumura T, Kuwamori M, Kimura N, Sako T, Chance B: Creatine supplementation enhances anaerobic ATP synthesis during a single 10 sec maximal handgrip exercise. Mol. Cell. Biochem 244, 105–112 (2003)
Madarame H , Sasaki K, Ishii N: Endocrine responses to upper- and lower-limb resistance exercices with blood flow restriction. Acta Physiol. Hung. 97 (2), 192–200 (2010)
Maganaris CN , Maughan RJ: Creatine supplementation enhances maximum voluntary isometric force and endurance capacity. Acta Physiol. Scand. 163, 279–287 (1998)
Matsuse H , Nago T, Takano Y, Shiba N: Plasma growth hormone is elevated immediately after resistance exercise with eletrical stimulation and voluntary muscle contraction. Tohoku J Exp. Med. 222 (1), 69–75 (2010)
Maughan RJ : : Creatine supplementation and exercise performance. Int. J. Sport Nut. 5, 94–101 (1995)
McMorris T , Harris RC, Swain , J, Corbett, Collard K, Dyson RJ, Dye L, Hodgson C, Draper N: Effect of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation, with mild exercise, on cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood state and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol. Psychopharmacol. 185, 93–103 (2006)
Mesa JLM , Ruiz JR, Gonzalez-Gross MM, Gutierrez Sainz A, Castillo Garzon MJ: : Oral creatine supplementation and skeletal muscle metabolism in physical exercise. Sports Med. 32 (14), 903–944 (2002)
Murray RK , Granner DK, Rodwell VW (1998): Harper’s Biochemistry. PZWL, Warszawa
Preen D , Dawson B, Goodman C, Lawrence S, Beilby J, Ching S: Effect of creatine loading on long-term sprint exercise performance and metabolism. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 33 (5), 814–821 (2001)
Rossouw F , Kruger PE, Rossouw J: The effect of creatine monohydrate loading on maximal intermittent exercise and sport-specific strength in well trained power-lifters. Nutr. Res. 20 (4), 505–514 (2000)
Saltin B , Gollnick PD (2011): Skeletal muscle adaptability: significance for metabolism and performance. In: Comprehensive Physiology. Am. Physiol. Soc. DOI:10.1002/cphy.cp100119
Sterkowicz S , Tyka AK, Chwastowski M, Sterkowicz-Przybycień K, Tyka A, Kłys A: The effect of training and creatine malate supplementation during preparation period on physical capacity and special fitness in judo contestants. J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr. 9, 41 DOI:10.1186/1550-2783-9-41 (2012)
Szponar L , Wolnicka K, Rychlik E (2000): Picture book of products and foods. Wyd. Inst. Żyw. i Żywienia, Warszawa
Thomas NE , Leyshon A, Hughes MG, Davies B, Graham M, Baker JS: The effect of anaerobic exercise on salivary cortisol, testosterone and immunoglobuline (A) in boys aged 15–16 years. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 107 (4), 455–461 (2009)
Thomas NE , Leyshon A, Hughes MG, Jasper MA, Davies B, Graham MR, Bulloch JM, Baker JS: Concentration of salivary cortisol, testosterone and immunoglobuline (A) after supra-maximal exercise in female adolescents. J. Sports Sci. 16, 1–8 (2010)
Volek SJ , Rawson ES: Scientific basis and practical aspects of creatine supplementation for athletes. Nutr. 20, 609–614 (2004)
Walker JB : Creatine: biosynthesis, regulation and function. Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Med. 50, 177–242 (1979)
Ziemba A : The role of creatine on forming exercise capacity and fatigue, and its use as a nutritional supplement in sports (Rola kreatyny w kształtowaniu zdolności wysiłkowej i zmęczenia oraz jej zastosowanie jako suplementu żywieniowego w sporcie). Med. Sport. 7 (2), 117–124 (2003)