The effect of longer-term creatine supplementation on elite swimming performance after an acute creatine loading.
We investigated the effect of an acute creatine loading (25 g per day for 4 days) and longer-term creatine supplementation (5 g of creatine or 5 g of placebo per day for 2 months) on the performance of 22 elite swimmers during maximal interval sessions. After the acute creatine loading, the mean of the average interval swim times for all swimmers (n = 22) improved (44.3+/-16.5 s before vs. 43.7+/-16.3 s after supplementation; P<0.01). Three of the 22 swimmers did not respond positively to supplementation. After 2 months of longer-term creatine supplementation or placebo, neither group showed a significant change in swimming performance (38.7+/-13.5 s before vs. 38.7+/-14.1 s after for the creatine group; 48.7+/-18.0 s before vs. 48.7+/-18.1 s after for the placebo group). We conclude that, in elite swimmers, 4 days of acute creatine loading improves swimming performance significantly when assessed by maximal interval sessions. However, longer-term supplementation for 2 months (5 g of creatine per day) did not benefit significantly the creatine group compared with the placebo group.
Theodorou
A S
AS
School of Leisure and Sport Studies, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.
Cooke
C B
CB
King
R F
RF
Hood
C
C
Denison
T
T
Wainwright
B G
BG
Havenetidis
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D010725:Phosphocreatine