The effects of creatine dietary supplementation on anterior compartment pressure in the lower leg during rest and following exercise.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of creatine supplementation on anterior compartment pressure of the lower leg at rest and following exercise.


METHODS
14 college-age males received creatine or placebo supplementation for 34 days. At baseline, anterior compartment pressure was measured preexercise, immediately postexercise, and 1, 5, and 15 minutes postexercise after a level treadmill run for 20 minutes at 80% of maximal aerobic power.


METHODS
Following baseline testing, subjects began a 6-day creatine or placebo loading phase at a dosage of 0.3 g x kg body mass(-1) x d(-1). This was followed by a 28-day maintenance phase at a dosage of 0.03 g x kg body mass(-1) x d(-1). Subjects and investigators were blinded as to treatment administration. Subjects continued to exercise during the supplementation period. After 6 days and 34 days of supplementation. anterior compartment pressure was measured at rest and following exercise.


RESULTS
Creatine supplementation for 6 days significantly increased compartment pressure compared with the placebo group at rest (76%), immediately post- (150%), 1 minute post- (125%), 5 minute post- (106%), and 15 minute postexercise (77%). Anterior compartment pressures continued to remain significantly higher for the creatine group compared with the placebo group at rest (72%), immediately post- (125%) and 1 minute postexercise (180%) after 34 days of creatine supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that creatine supplementation abnormally increases anterior compartment pressure in the lower leg at rest and following 20 minutes of level running at 80% of maximal aerobic power.
Schroeder
C
C
Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.
Potteiger
J
J
Randall
J
J
Jacobsen
D
D
Magee
L
L
Benedict
S
S
Hulver
M
M
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000032:analysis; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology
D010725:Phosphocreatine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003401:Creatine