Short term creatine loading improves strength endurance even without changing maximal strength, RPE, fatigue index, blood lactate, and mode state

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 96; no. 2; p. e20230559
• Main Authors: FURTADO, EDILSON TADEU F., OLIVEIRA, JOÃO PAULO L. DE, PEREIRA, ISABELA S.B., VEIGA, ELAYNE P., SILVA, SANDRO F. DA, ABREU, WILSON CÉSAR DE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Creatine - administration & dosage; Creatine - blood; Creatine - pharmacology; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Humans; hypertrophy; Lactic Acid - blood; Male; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; Muscle Fatigue - drug effects; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; muscle strength; Muscle Strength - drug effects; Muscle Strength - physiology; physical endurance; Physical Endurance - drug effects; Physical Endurance - physiology; resistance training; Resistance Training - methods; Young Adult; muscle strength; dietary supplements; physical endurance; resistance training; hypertrophy
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690
• DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202420230559

Creatine is consumed by athletes to increase strength and gain muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation on maximal strength and strength endurance. Twelve strength-trained men (25.2 ± 3.4 years) supplemented with 20 g Creatina + 10g maltodextrin or placebo (20g starch + 10g maltodextrin) for five days in randomized order. Maximal strength and strength endurance (4 sets 70% 1RM until concentric failure) were determined in the bench press. In addition, blood lactate, rate of perceived effort, fatigue index, and mood state were evaluated. All measurements were performed before and after the supplementation period. There were no significant changing in maximal strength, blood lactate, RPE, fatigue index, and mood state in either treatment. However, the creatine group performed more repetitions after the supplementation (Cr: Δ = +3.4 reps, p = 0.036, g = 0.53; PLA: Δ = +0.3reps, p = 0.414, g = 0.06), and higher total work (Cr: Δ = +199.5au, p = 0.038, g = 0.52; PLA: Δ = +26.7au, p = 0.402, g = 0.07). Creatine loading for five days allowed the subjects to perform more repetitions, resulting in greater total work, but failed to change the maximum strength.