Effect of Creatine on Performance of Militarily Relevant Tasks and Soldier Health

Abstract

Creatine supplementation increased body mass and pull-up performance but did not cause acute health problems. Creatine did not increase core temperature compared with placebo under the environmental conditions of the study, and it is unlikely that creatine will enhance the overall readiness or performance of soldiers.

The effects of creatine supplementation on thermoregulation and physical (cognitive) performance: a review and future prospects

“…It is possible that the exercise trials were not of sufficient duration and intensity for Cr-induced hyperhydration to have a significant effect on performance. Although generally positive effects of Cr have been reported on thermoregulation, there are a number of other studies that fail to observe any effects of Cr on thermoregulation (Oopik et al 1998;Terjung et al 2000;Bennett et al 2001;Branch et al 2007;Rosene et al 2015). Future Cr-induced hyperhydration studies should, therefore, concentrate on longer duration and more strenuous protocols in ambient conditions sufficiently extreme to induce greater levels of dehydration and thermal stress in order to more comprehensively examine the role of Cr on exercise performance in extreme conditions.…”

“…No effects on core temperature compared to placebo Reduced plasma volume loss during 1 hour of hyperthermic submaximal exercise Cognitive performance and neuroprotection Jones et al 2009Tan, 2014Haussinger et al 1993 Francaux and Poortmans 1999; Saab et al 2002Kilduff et al 2003Kilduff et al 2004;Easton et al 2007;Beis et al 2011;Polyviou et al 2012Tarnopolsky et al 1997Andrews et al 1998;Hespel et al 2001Fuld et al 2005Easton et al 2009Bennett et al 2001Branch et al 2007 Increase in psychomotor, complex cognitive task and motor skill performance post-sleep deprivation Some evidence of neuroprotection Reduced hypoxic brain damage McMorris et al 2006;McMorris et al 2007;Cook et al 2011Turner et al 2015Carter et al 1995 Footnote: All studies presented in Table 1 are human studies with the exception of Carter et al 1995 and who used in vitro animal models…”

The use of creatine supplements in the military

“…The obstacle course timings showed insignificant and/or small improvements in the creatine group,38 40 possibly because it is dependent on energy sources from anaerobic and aerobic pathways which are less creatine-dependent. Similarly, the use of continuous, submaximal activity (5 km run and 10 km march) in the study of Bennet et al ,39 possibly excluded the facilitation of exogenous creatine on energy supply during initiation and/or rest periods due to the predominance of other energy pathways. Marksmanship which was also used as a performance measure in the study of Warber et al ,40 was not affected by creatine supplementation, presumably due to the technical rather than the metabolic demands that characterise this military task.…”

Health Assessment of U.S. Army Rangers

“…Despite no clear performance advantage, such supplements are commonly used, particularly by athletes in training. 4,5,9,37 This is of increasing concern particularly because the use of ephedrine has beenlinkedto multiple adverse events, including death. 13 Adverse effects from supplementuse maybe magnified or amplified whenused while exercising under extreme environmental conditions, particularly warm or hot environments.…”