Effects of creatine supplementation on cerebral white matter in competitive sportsmen.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the neurobiochemical sequelae of oral creatine monohydrate supplementation in active athletes.


METHODS
Eighteen sportsmen underwent single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the deep frontal cerebral white matter before and after 5 days of oral ingestion: 12 of 18 swallowed 4 x 5 g creatine monohydrate per day, and the remaining swallowed a placebo.


METHODS
Creatine, choline, and N-acetyl spectral resonances were evaluated at both long (135 ms) and short (20 ms) echo times.


RESULTS
A mixed-design factorial ANOVA demonstrated no interaction over time in any of the measures (P at least 0.081).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that, for the given dosage regimen, ingested creatine augmentation does not alter the magnetic resonance visible creatine pool in the deep frontal cerebral white matter of young active sportsmen.
Wilkinson
Iain D
ID
Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom. i.d.wilkinson@sheffield.ac.uk
Mitchel
Nigel
N
Breivik
Simon
S
Greenwood
Pamela
P
Griffiths
Paul D
PD
Winter
Edward M
EM
Van Beek
Edwin J R
EJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003401:Creatine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D013177:Sports
D010919:Placebos; D003401:Creatine