EFFECT OF CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING STRENGTH TRAINING ON 1RM AND BODY COMPOSITION 835

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of oral creatine supplementation during strength training with the biceps curl on changes in muscular strength and fat free mass (FFM). A double blind non-randomized design was employed to create two groups (Cr, n=10 and Placebo, n=13) of experienced weight-lifters with similar mean pretest 1RMs. Subjects in Cr ingested 5 g of creatine monohydrate, four times daily in a sucrose-sweetened drink. Placebo ingested a sucrose-sweetened drink. After the first week, creatine supplementation was 2 g per day. 1RM biceps curl strength and body composition by hydrostatic weighing were measured pretest and posttest. The subjects performed 6 weeks of periodized training starting with 8RM and ending with 2RM. 1RM for Cr increased (p<.01) from 42.8 ± 17.7 kg at pretest to 54.7 ± 14.1 kg at posttest, while 1RM for Placebo increased(p<.01) from 42.5 ± 15.9 kg at pretest to 49.3 ± 15.7 kg at posttest. 1RM increased more (p<.01) for Cr than Placebo. Body mass for Cr increased (p<.01) from 86.7 ± 14.7 kg at pretest to 88.7 ± 13.8 kg at posttest. FFM for Cr increased (p<.01) from 71.2 ± 10.0 kg at pretest to 72.8 ± 10.1 kg at posttest. There was no change(p>.01) in body mass and FFM for Placebo. No change in fat mass or percent body fat was found for either group. In conclusion, six weeks of creatine supplemented strength training lead to greater increases in 1RM strength and fat free mass than strength training alone.