Effects of Oral Creatine Supplementation on High Intensity, Intermittent Exercise Performance in Competitive Squash Players

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oral creatine supplementation on high intensity, intermittent exercise performance in competitive squash players. Nine squash players (mean ± SEM V˙O₂max = 61.9 ± 2.1ml · kg^-1 · min^-1; body mass = 73 ± 3 kg) performed an on-court “ghosting” routine that involved 10 sets of 2 repetitions of simulated positional play, each set interspersed with 30 s passive recovery. A double blind, crossover design was utilised whereby experimental and control groups supplemented 4 times daily for 5 d with 0.075 g · kg^-1 body mass of creatine monohydrate and maltodextrine, respectively, and a 4 wk washout period separated the crossover of treatments. The experimental group improved mean set sprint time by 3.2 ± 0.8 % over and above the changes noted for the control group (P = 0.004 and 95 % Cl = 1.4 to 5.1 %). Sets 2 to 10 were completed in a significantly shorter time following creatine supplementation compared to the placebo condition (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these data support existing evidence that creatine supplementation improves high intensity, intermittent exercise performance. In addition, the present study provides new evidence that oral creatine supplementation improves exercise performance in competitive squash players.

Key words:

Phosphocreatine, ergogenic aid, repetitive sprint, ghosting.

References

• 1 Atkinson G S, Reilly T. Circadian variation in sports performance.  Sports Med. 1996;  21 292-312
• 2 Balsom P D, Ekblom B, Söderlund K, Sjodin B, Hultman E. Creatine supplementation and dynamic high-intensity intermittent exercise.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1993;  3 143-149
• 3 Balsom P D, Söderlund K, Sjodin B, Ekblom B. Skeletal muscle metabolism during short duration high-intensity exercise: influence of creatine supplementation.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1995;  1154 303-310
• 4 Barnett C M, Hinds M, Jenkins D G. Effects of oral creatine supplementation on multiple sprint cycle performance.  Aust J Sci Sport. 1996;  28 35-39
• 5 Birch R, Noble D, Greenhaff P L. The influence of dietary creatine supplementation on performance during repeated bouts of maximal isokinetic cycling in man.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1994;  69 268-270
• 6 Burke L M, Pyne D B, Telford R D. Effect of oral creatine supplementation on single-effort performance in elite swimmers.  Int J Sports Nutr. 1996;  6 222-233
• 7 Capriotti P V, Sherman W M, Lamb D R. Reliability of power output during intermittent high-intensity cycling.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 913-915
• 8 Casey A, Constantin-Teodosiu D, Howell D, Hultman E, Greenhaff P. Creatine ingestion favourably affects performance and muscle metabolism during maximal exercise in humans.  Am J Physiol. 1996;  271 E31-E37
• 9 Chin M, Steininger K, Raymond C H, Clark C R, Wong A SK. Physiological profiles and sport specific fitness of Asian elite squash players.  Br J Sports Med. 1995;  29 158-164
• 10 Cooke W H, Barnes W S. The influence of recovery duration on high-intensity exercise performance after oral creatine supplementation.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1997;  22 454-467
• 11 Cooke W H, Grandjean P W, Barnes W S. Effect of oral creatine supplementation on power output and fatigue during bicycle ergometry.  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  78 670-673
• 12 Dawson B, Cutler M, Moody A, Lawrence S, Goodman C, Randall N. Effects of oral creatine loading on single and repeated maximal short sprints.  Aust J Sci Med Sports. 1995;  27 56-61
• 13 Durnin J VGA, Womersley J. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years.  Brit J Nutr. 1974;  32 77-97
• 14 Earnest C, Snell P, Rodriguez R, Almada A, Mitchell T. The effect of creatine monohydrate ingestion on anaerobic power indices, muscular strength and body composition.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1995;  153 207-209
• 15 Febbraio M A, Flanagan T R, Snow R J, Zhao S, Carey F M. Effect of creatine supplementation on intramuscular TCr, metabolism and performance during intermittent, supramaximal exercise in humans.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1995;  155 387-395
• 16 Fitch C D, Jellinek M, Fitts R H, Baldwin K M, Holloszy J O. Phosphorylated β-guanidinopropionate as a substitute for phosphocreatine in rat muscle.  Am J Physiol. 1975;  288 1123-1125
• 17 Fitzsimons M, Dawson B, Ward D, Wilkinson A. Cycling and running tests of repeated sprint ability.  Aust J Sci Med Sport. 1993;  25 82-87
• 18 Forsberg A M, Nilsson E, Werneman J, Bergstrom J, Hultman E. Muscle composition in relation to age and sex.  Clin Sci. 1991;  81 249-256
• 19 Green A L, Hultman E, MacDonald I A, Sewell D A, Greenhaff P L. Carbohydrate ingestion augments skeletal muscle creatine accumulation during creatine supplementation in humans.  Am J Physiol. 1996;  271 E821-E826
• 20 Green A L, Simpson E J, Littlewood J, Macdonald I A, Greenhaff P L. Carbohydrate ingestion augments creatine retention during creatine feedings in humans.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1996;  158 195-202
• 21 Greenhaff P L. The nutritional biochemistry of creatine.  J Nutr Biochem. 1997;  11 610-618
• 22 Greenhaff P L, Bodin K, Söderlund K, Hultman E. The effect of oral creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle phosphocreatine resynthesis.  Am J Physiol. 1994;  266 E725-E730
• 23 Greenhaff P L, Casey A, Short A H, Harris R C, Söderlund K, Hultman E. Influence of oral creatine supplementation on muscle torque during repeated bouts of maximal voluntary exercise in man.  Clin Sci. 1993;  84 565-571
• 24 Grindstaff P D, Kreider R, Bishop R, Wilson M, Wood L, Alexander C, Almada A. Effects of creatine supplementation on repetitive sprint performance and body composition in competitive swimmers.  Int J Sports Nutr. 1997;  7 330-346
• 25 Harris R C, Söderlund K, Hultman E. Elevation of creatine in resting and exercised muscle of normal subjects by creatine supplementation.  Clin Sci. 1992;  83 367-374
• 26 Hultman E, Greenhaff P L, Ren J -M, Söderlund J A. Energy metabolism and fatigue during intense muscle contraction.  Biochem Soc Trans. 1991;  19 347-353
• 27 Hultman E, Söderlund K, Timmons J A, Cederblad G, Greenhaff P L. Muscle creatine loading in men.  J Appl Physiol. 1996;  81 232-237
• 28 Jones A M, Atter T, Georg K P. Oral creatine supplementation improves multiple sprint performance in elite ice-hockey players.  J Sports Med Phys Fitn. 1999;  39 189-196
• 29 Kamber M, Koster M, Kreis R, Walker G, Boesch C, Hoppeler H. Creatine supplementation - Part 1: performance, clinical chemistry, and muscle volume.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1763-1769
• 30 Katz A, Sahlin K, Henriksson J. Muscle ATP turnover rate during isometric contractions in humans.  J Appl Physiol. 1986;  60 1839-1842
• 31 Kraemer W J, Volek J S. Creatine supplementation: Its role in human performance.  Clin Sports Med. 1999;  18 651-666
• 32 Kreis R, Kamber M, Koster M, Felblinger J, Slotboom J, Hoppeler H, Boesch C. Creatine supplementation - Part II: in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1770-1777
• 33 Leenders N, Sherman W M, Lamb D A, Nelson T E. Creatine supplementation and swimming performance.  Int J Sport Nutr. 1999;  9 251-264
• 34 Mercier M, Beillot J, Gratas A, Rochcongar P, Lessard Y. Adaptation to work load in squash players: laboratory tests and on-court recordings.  J Sports Med. 1987;  27 98-104
• 35 Meyer R A, Brown T R, Krilowicz B L, Kushmerick M J. Phosphagen and intracellular pH changes during contraction of creatine-depleted rat muscle.  Am J Physiol. 1986;  250 C264-C274
• 36 Montpetit R R. Applied physiology of squash.  Sports Med. 1990;  10 31-41
• 37 Mujika I, Chatard J C, Lacoste L, Barale F, Geyssant A. Creatine supplementation does not improve sprint performance in competitive swimmers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 1435-1441
• 38 Mujika I, Padilla S, Ibanez J, Izquierdo M, Gorostiaga E. Creatine supplementation and sprint performance in soccer players.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 518-525
• 39 Odland M L, MacDougall J D, Tarnopolosky M A, Elorriage A, Borgmann A. Effect of oral creatine supplementation on muscle [PCr] and short-term maximum power output.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 216-219
• 40 Poortmans J R, Auquier H, Renaut V, Durassel A, Saugy M, Brisson G. Effects of short-term creatine supplementation on renal responses in men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997;  76 566-567
• 41 Poortmans J R, Francaux M. Long-term creatine supplementation does not impair renal function in healthy athletes.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1108-1110
• 42 Prevost M, Nelson A, Morris G. The effects of creatine supplementation on total work output and metabolism during high-intensity intermittent exercise.  Res Quart Exerc Sport. 1997;  68 233-240
• 43 Redondo D R, Dowling E A, Graham B L, Almada A L, Williams M H. The effect of oral creatine monohydrate supplementation on running velocity.  Int J Sport Nutr. 1996;  6 213-221
• 44 Sharp N CC. Physiological demands and fitness for squash. In: Lees A, Maynard I, Hughes M, Reilly T (eds) Science and Racket Sports II. London; E & FN Spon 1998: 3-13
• 45 Siri W E. .  The gross composition of the body. In: Tobias CA, Lawrence JH (eds) Advances in Biological and Medical Physics. New York; Academic Press 1956: 239-280
• 46 Snow R J, McKenna M J, Selig S E, Kemp J, Stathis C J, Zhao S. Effect of creatine supplementation on sprint exercise performance and muscle metabolism.  J Appl Physiol. 1998;  84 1667-1673
• 47 Terrilion K A, Kolkhorst F W, Dolgener F A, Joslyn S J. The effect of creatine supplementation on two 700-m maximal running bouts.  Int J Sport Nutr. 1997;  6 222-233
• 48 Thompson C H, Kemp G J, Sanderson A L, Dixon R M, Styles P, Taylor D J, Radda G K. Effect of creatine on aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in skeletal muscle in swimmers.  Br J Sports Med. 1996;  30 222-225
• 49 Todd M K, Mahoney C A. Determination of pre-season physiological characteristics of elite male squash players. In: Reilly T, Hughes M, Lees A (eds) Science and Racket Sports I. London; E & FN Spon 1995: 81-86
• 50 Vandenberghe K, Gillis N, van Leemputte M, van Hecke P, Vanstapel F, Hespel P. Caffeine counteracts the ergogenic action of muscle creatine loading.  J Appl Physiol. 1996;  80 452-457
• 51 Vandenberghe K, van Hecke P, van Leemputte M, Vanstapel F, Hespel P. Phosphocreatine resynthesis is not affected by creatine loading.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 236-242
• 52 Van Rensburg J P, van der Linde A, Ackermann P C, Kielblock A J, Strydom N B. Physiological profile of squash players.  S Afr Med J. 1982;  62 721-723