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Effect of different frequencies of creatine supplementation on muscle size and strength in young adults.

Journal of strength and conditioning research
July 1, 2011
Darren G Candow et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine if creatine supplementation, taken before and after resistance training with different dosing frequencies (2 or 3 days per week), enhances muscle size and strength gains in young adults.

Results Summary

All groups showed increased strength and muscle thickness, but creatine groups (CR2 and CR3) had greater gains in elbow flexor muscle thickness compared to placebo groups. Men on creatine experienced significantly higher leg press strength gains than women on creatine.

Population

38 physically active, non-resistance-trained university students (21-28 years old, mixed gender).

Effective Dosage

CR2: 0.15 g/kg creatine 2 days/week; CR3: 0.10 g/kg creatine 3 days/week.

Duration

6 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
resistance training
increase
strength
all groups
-
increased
#1
resistance training
increase
muscle thickness
all groups
-
increased
#2
creatine supplementation (CR2 group)
increase
muscle thickness of the elbow flexors
CR2 group
0.6 ± 0.9 cm or 20%
experienced greater change
#3
creatine supplementation (CR3 group)
increase
muscle thickness of the elbow flexors
CR3 group
0.4 ± 0.6 cm or 16.4%
experienced greater change
#4
placebo (PLA2 group)
increase
muscle thickness of the elbow flexors
PLA2 group
0.05 ± 0.5 cm or 2.3%
experienced change
#5
placebo (PLA3 group)
increase
muscle thickness of the elbow flexors
PLA3 group
0.13 ± 0.7 cm or 6.3%
experienced change
#6
creatine supplementation
increase
leg press strength
men supplementing with creatine
77.3 ± 51.2 kg or 62%
experienced a greater increase
#7
creatine supplementation
increase
leg press strength
women on creatine
21.3 ± 10 kg or 34%
experienced increase
#8
creatine supplementation during resistance training
increase
regional muscle thickness
young adults
-
has a small beneficial effect
#9
creatine supplementation
no change
effect
-
-
did not differ
#10
Abstract

The purpose was to determine if creatine supplementation, consumed immediately before and immediately after exercise, with different dosing frequency (i.e., 2 or 3 d wk) could enhance the gains in muscle size and strength from resistance training (RT) in young adults. A group of 38 physically active, nonresistance trained university students (21-28 years) was randomly allocated to 1 of 4 groups: CR2 (0.15 g·kg creatine during 2 d wk of RT; 3 sets of 10 repetitions; n = 11, 6 men, 5 women), CR3 (0.10 g·kg creatine during 3 d wk of RT; 2 sets of 10 repetitions; n = 11, 6 men, 5 women;), PLA2 (placebo during 2 d wk of RT; n = 8, 5 men, 3 women), and PLA3 (placebo during 3 d wk of RT; n = 8, 4 men, 4 women) for 6 weeks. Before and after training, measurements were taken for muscle thickness of the elbow and knee flexor and extensor muscle groups (ultrasound), 1-repetition maximumleg press and chest press strength, and kidney function (urinary microalbumin). Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that strength and muscle thickness increased in all groups with training (p < 0.05). The CR2 (0.6 ± 0.9 cm or 20%; p < 0.05) and CR3 groups (0.4 ± 0.6 cm or 16.4%; p < 0.05) experienced greater change in muscle thickness of the elbow flexors compared to the PLA2 (0.05 ± 0.5 cm or 2.3%) and PLA3 groups (0.13 ± 0.7 cm or 6.3%). Men supplementing with creatine experienced a greater increase in leg press strength (77.3 ± 51.2 kg or 62%) compared to women on creatine (21.3 ± 10 kg or 34%, p < 0.05). We conclude that creatine supplementation during RT has a small beneficial effect on regional muscle thickness in young adults but that giving the creatine over 3 d wk did not differ from giving the same dose over 2 d wk.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultAnalysis of VarianceArmCreatineDietary SupplementsDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansLegMaleMuscle StrengthMuscle, SkeletalOrgan SizePhysical Education and TrainingThoraxYoung Adult
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations15
Citations/Year1.1
Relative Citation Ratio0.67
NIH Percentile35.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.31
Normalized Score0.66
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