Effect of Ten Weeks of Creatine Monohydrate Plus HMB Supplementation on Athletic Performance Tests in Elite Male Endurance Athletes

Abstract

Creatine monohydrate (CrM) and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) are common ergogenic aids in the field of sports and are frequently used in an isolated way. However, there are a few studies that have investigated the effect of combining both supplements on different variables related to performance, with controversial results. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and the degree of potentiation of 10 weeks of CrM plus HMB supplementation on sports performance, which was measured by an incremental test to exhaustion in elite male traditional rowers. In this placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 10-week study, participants (n = 28) were randomized to a placebo group (PLG; n = 7), CrM group (0.04 g/kg/day of CrM; n = 7), HMB group (3 g/day of HMB; n = 7) and CrM-HMB group (0.04 g/kg/day of CrM plus 3 g/day of HMB; n = 7). Before and after 10 weeks of different treatments, an incremental test was performed on a rowing ergometer to calculate the power that each rower obtained at the anaerobic threshold (WAT), and at 4 mmol (W4) and 8 mmol (W8) of blood lactate concentration. There were no significant differences in WAT and W4 among groups or in body composition. However, it was observed that the aerobic power achieved at W8 was significantly higher in the CrM-HMB group than in the PLG, CrM and HMB groups (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.766). Likewise, a synergistic effect of combined supplementation was found for the sum of the two supplements separately at WAT (CrM-HMBG = 403.19% vs. CrMG+HMBG = 337.52%), W4 (CrM-HMBG = 2736.17% vs. CrMG+HMBG = 1705.32%) and W8 (CrM-HMBG = 1293.4% vs. CrMG+HMBG = 877.56%). In summary, CrM plus HMB supplementation over 10 weeks showed a synergistic effect on aerobic power (measured as WAT, W4, and W8) during an incremental test but had no influence muscle mass.

Long-Term Effect of Combination of Creatine Monohydrate Plus β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Anabolic/Catabolic Hormones in Elite Male Endurance Athletes

“…Moreover, the results presented on testosterone and T/C could mean better training adaptation/recovery mediated by the combination of CrM and HMB. This result might have facilitated a better aerobic power in CrM-HMBG during an incremental test (related to individual lactate threshold) [68]. These results were corroborated by a synergistic effect of combined supplementation (CrM plus HMB) on testosterone and T/C and an antagonistic effect on cortisol.…”

Nutritional Strategies to Optimize Performance and Recovery in Rowing Athletes

“…Also, they suggested tentative mechanisms, such as mitochondrial biogenesis due to AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirt 1 activation, and improved efficiency of carbohydrate, glycogen, and fat metabolisms, to explain the observed changes. A recent study [ 41 ] reported that supplementing rowing athletes with a combination of HMB (3 g/day) and creatine (0.04 g/day) for 10 weeks did not change muscle mass but significantly improved aerobic power. The authors suspected that the improvement in aerobic power was a result of a synergy effect between HMB that caused fiber transformation (driving fast-to-slow fiber switch) together with increased gene expression of gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and creatine that increased energy availability during exercise via elevated phosphocreatine level in muscle [ 41 ].…”

“…A recent study [ 41 ] reported that supplementing rowing athletes with a combination of HMB (3 g/day) and creatine (0.04 g/day) for 10 weeks did not change muscle mass but significantly improved aerobic power. The authors suspected that the improvement in aerobic power was a result of a synergy effect between HMB that caused fiber transformation (driving fast-to-slow fiber switch) together with increased gene expression of gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and creatine that increased energy availability during exercise via elevated phosphocreatine level in muscle [ 41 ]. This means that rowing athletes can save glycogen and gain energy via oxidative capacity when they need endurance.…”

Nutrition and Muscle Recovery

“…Nutritional supplements were studied in four studies (33.2%) in this Special Issue [1,2,4,12]. Bazzucchi et al [1] and Martin-Rincon et al [4] have studied the effect of polyphenols on muscle recovery, EIMD, and muscle pain, with quercetin (Q) in monotherapy and quercetin plus Zynamite ® (mango leaf extract), respectively.…”

“…The proteins and amino acids represent the most consumed ergogenic aids. In this Special Issue, two manuscripts [2,12] described the effect of two amino acid supplementation strategies on sports performance. Fernandez-Landa et al [2] created one of a small number of research studies of the additional effect level of amino acid mixing (creatine monohydrate (CrM) and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB)); also, they have identified whether their effects are synergistic in professional rowers.…”