Creatine and Its Application as an Ergogenic Aid

Abstract

Phosphocreatine (PCr) availability is likely to limit performance in brief, high-power exercise because the depletion of PCr results in an inability to maintain adenosine triphosphate (ATP) resynthesis at the rate required. It is now known that the daily ingestion of four 5-g doses of creatine for 5 days will significantly increase intramuscular creatine and PCr concentrations prior to exercise and will facilitate PCr resynthesis during recovery from exercise, particularly in those individuals with relatively low creatine concentrations prior to feeding. As a consequence of creatine ingestion, work output during repeated bouts of high-power exercise has been increased under a variety of experimental conditions. The reduced accumulation of ammonia and hypoxanthine in plasma and the attenuation of muscle ATP degradation after creatine feeding suggest that the ergogenic effect of creatine is achieved by better maintaining ATP turnover during contraction.

Does creatine supplementation enhance the effects of physical training during pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD?

“…More recently, there has been growing interest in creatine supplementation in various patient groups. Creatine is a naturally occurring substance and supplementation is popular amongst athletes to augment their training and performance [11]. It is thought that creatine, in its phosphorylated form, enhances performance by increasing the phosphagen pool available for rapid resynthesis of adenosine triphosphate from adenosine diphosphate during periods of high ATP turnover.…”

Study of renal and hepatic toxicity in rats supplemented with creatine

“…According to surveys, it is estimated that 80% of the athletes participating in 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games made use of creatine for ergogenic purposes 7 . The rationale for such use has been the evidence that the availability of this compound is a major limitation to muscle performance during short-duration and high intensity activities, since its depletion results in the inability to resynthesize enough quantity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) [8][9][10] .…”

Efectos de la ingestión de creatinina en la composición corporal y en la performance del ejercicio supino

“…De acuerdo con Alves (2002), la fatiga durante el ejercicio puede ser atribuida al rápido decrecimiento de PCR, y que la recuperación más rápida de los stocks de PCR aumentaría la formación de ATP, mejorando la performance en deportes que demanden alta potencia, velocidad o fuerza. Corroborando, Greennhaff (1995) sugiere que los ejercicios de alta intensidad, que utilizan a reserva de fosfagénio muscular, parecen ser más apropiados para intentarse un aumento de performance a través de suplemento con Cr.…”