Effect of creatine malate supplementation on physical performance, body composition and selected hormone levels in spinters and long-distance runners

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine whether creatine malate (CML) supplementation results in similar ergogenic effect in sprinters and long-distance runners. The other goal was to compare changes in body composition, physical performance and hormone levels after six-week training in athletes, divided into subgroups supplemented with creatine malate or taking placebo. Results: Six-week supplementation combined with physical training induced different effects in athletes. Significantly higher increases in relative and absolute peak power and total work (p < 0.05) were found in sprinters compared to other groups. Except for growth hormone, post-exercise venous blood serum hormone levels exhibited no statistically significant differences in athletes. After CML loading period, a significant increase in growth hormone was found in the group of sprinters. Conclusions: A significant ergogenic effect was found in sprinters, which was reflected by the increase in anaerobic exercise indices and morphological indices and elevated growth hormone level, after graded exercise testing. The significant increase in the distance covered during graded test was only observed in supplemented long-distance runners, whereas no significant changes in maximal oxygen uptake, relative peak power and relative total work were noticed. This could be caused by later anaerobic threshold appearance in exercise test to exhaustion.Keywords: long-distance runners, sprinters, creatine malate supplementation, body composition, maximal oxygen uptake, peak power output, growth hormone, cortisol, testosteroneThe effect of creatine on physical performance development is a subject of interest among many researchers. Since its discovery in 1832 by Chevreul, the effect of creatine on the human body has been investigated in numerous laboratories all over the world. The welldocumented properties of creatine include its biosynthesis and distribution in human body (19,39), its role in energy conversion in skeletal muscles and delayed fatigue (18,20,40), pattern and the effect of creatine intake on ability to perform physical exercise (2,7,12,13).

Comparisons Between Serum Levels of Hepcidin and Leptin in Male College-Level Endurance Runners and Sprinters

“…The participants had an average age of 20.1 ± 0.2 years and had engaged in track and field events for an average of 7.8 ± 0.3 (range, 4-11) years. As expected from previous studies (28,29), the sprinters had a significantly higher body weight, body mass index, and lean mass and body fat compared with endurance runners (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between endurance runners vs. sprinters for absolute intake of energy (2,387 ± 85.5 vs. 2,209 ± 136 kcal/day; P = 0.34), protein (81.3 ± 3.7 vs. 81.9 ± 5.7 g/day; P = 0.94), fat (68.7 ± 4.3 vs. 64.3 ± 4.2 g/day; P = 0.48), carbohydrates (336.6 ± 11.5 vs. 311.6 ± 25.0 g/day, P = 0.45), and iron (8.1 ± 2.0 vs. 8.6 ± 3.0 mg/day; P = 0.64).…”

Creatine and creatine forms intended for sports nutrition

“…Information about the incidence of adverse effects was not included in this study investigating an intake of 5 g tricreatine malate per day for 6 weeks in young men during judo training . In another study, an elevation of growth hormones in male sprinters (but not in long‐distance runners) was observed after supplementation of around 5 g tricreatine malate per 70 kg lean body mass for 6 weeks .…”

Anticarcinogenic properties of malic acid on glioblastoma cell line through necrotic cell death mechanism

“…It is a known fact that more than fifty cosmetic products contain malic acid [10,11]. Recent studies have shown that keratin-malate supplementation can be used as a performance-enhancing agent and increases the physical performance of athletes [12]. It has been investigated that a diet high in malic acid, which is the precursor of citrate, increases kidney stone formation [13].…”