title: Long-term creatine intake is beneficial to muscle performance during resistance training.
abstract: The effects of oral creatine supplementation on muscle phosphocreatine (PCr) concentration, muscle strength, and body composition were investigated in young female volunteers (n = 19) during 10 wk of resistance training (3 h/wk). Compared with placebo, 4 days of high-dose creatine intake (20 g/day) increased (P < 0.05) muscle PCr concentration by 6%. Thereafter, this increase was maintained during 10 wk of training associated with low-dose creatine intake (5 g/day). Compared with placebo, maximal strength of the muscle groups trained, maximal intermittent exercise capacity of the arm flexors, and fat-free mass were increased 20-25, 10-25, and 60% more (P < 0. 05), respectively, during creatine supplementation. Muscle PCr and strength, intermittent exercise capacity, and fat-free mass subsequently remained at a higher level in the creatine group than in the placebo group during 10 wk of detraining while low-dose creatine was continued. Finally, on cessation of creatine intake, muscle PCr in the creatine group returned to normal within 4 wk. It is concluded that long-term creatine supplementation enhances the progress of muscle strength during resistance training in sedentary females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandenberghe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goris
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Leemputte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vangerven
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hespel
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D003401:Creatine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010725:Phosphocreatine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003401:Creatine