Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Urinary Creatine and Phosphate in Athletes: Pre‐ and Post‐Training Assessment

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. e202400210 - n/a
• Main Authors: Santos, Letícia C. S., Silveira, Landulfo, Pacheco, Marcos T. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 01.01.2025; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Athletes; bodybuilding; Creatine; Creatine - urine; Humans; Male; Phosphates - urine; Physical exercise; Principal Component Analysis; principal component analysis (PCA); Principal components analysis; Raman spectroscopy; Spectroscopic analysis; Spectroscopy; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Training; Training evaluation; Urine; Young Adult; bodybuilding; Raman spectroscopy; urine; creatine; principal component analysis (PCA)
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202400210
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to detect biochemical components in the urine of bodybuilders who ingested creatine pretraining compared to individuals who did not ingest creatine after physical exercise using Raman spectroscopy. Twenty volunteers practicing bodybuilding were selected to collect pre‐ and post‐training urine samples, where 10 volunteers ingested creatine 30 min before pretraining urine collection (creatine group), and 10 did not (control group). The samples were subjected to Raman spectroscopy, and the spectra of both creatine and control groups and the difference (post—pre) for both groups were analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) technique was applied to the samples. The results showed peaks of creatine and phosphate in urine after training (creatine post‐training group), suggesting that part of the creatine was absorbed and metabolized, and part was excreted. Raman spectroscopy could be applied to detect biocompounds in urine, such as unmetabolized creatine and phosphate. The objective was to determine the differences in the composition of urine from volunteers before and after weightlifting activity. Urine samples were collected from two groups of volunteers (creatine group: intake of creatine 30 min before urine collection, and control group, which did not ingest creatine) and subjected to Raman spectroscopy. Principal component analysis identified peaks related to creatine and other compounds, such as phosphate and ketone bodies.