Current Trends of Creatine Use in Exercise: A Systematic Review

Öz

Creatine, which is a popular ergogenic aid, is shown among the most effective methods used as performance enhancer in athletes. The aim of this review is to summarize the current publications to show the uses and effects of creatine in exercise. In the present study prepared in a systematic review style, full-text articles about creatine use published in Science Citation Index (SCI), SCI-Expanded and PubMed/MEDLINE databases’ journals between 2010 and 2021 were examined. The searching was performed by “creatine”, “creatine monohydrate” and “creatine supplementation” keywords. Data from 46 studies showed that creatine loading in individuals who train during high intensity and short term exercise forms affect performance positively, develop muscle mass/strength and increase muscle creatine phosphate (PCr) stores. Moreover, it was found that creatine supplement applied with strength training in elderly individuals increased muscle mass, muscle strength and movement capacity. It is determined that there is no definitive and clear procedure regarding the usage dosage for creatine. Consequently, it has been demonstrated that creatine supplementation is an effective ergogenic aid for the development of muscle and strength for athletes of all levels. In addition, the increase in the number of studies on the creatine usage dosage to be examined in different athlete profiles may lead to a decrease in the contradictions about the usage procedure.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Creatine
• ergogenic aid
• performance
• supplement

Kaynakça

1. Aguiar AF, Januário RSB, Junior RP, Gerage AM, Pina FLC, Do Nascimento MA, Cyrino ES. Long-term creatine supplementation improves muscular performance during resistance training in older women. European journal of applied physiology, 2013; 113(4), 987-996.
2. Alves CRR, Merege Filho CAA, Benatti FB, Brucki S, Pereira RMR, de Sá Pinto AL, Gualano, B. Creatine supplementation associated or not with strength training upon emotional and cognitive measures in older women: a randomized double-blind study. PLoS One, 2013; 8(10), e76301.
3. Antonio J, Ciccone V. The effects of pre versus post workout supplementation of creatine monohydrate on body composition and strength. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2013; 10(1), 1-8.
4. Araújo AP, Bertolini SMMG, Junior JM. Morphophysiologial alterations resulted from the process of musculoskeletal system aging and its consequences for the human body. Perspectivas: biológicas e saúde, 2014; 4, 22-34.
5. Bassit RA, da Justa Pinheiro CH, Vitzel KF, Sproesser AJ, Silveira LR, Curi R. Effect of short-term creatine supplementation on markers of skeletal muscle damage after strenuous contractile activity. European journal of applied physiology, 2010; 108(5), 945-955.
6. Bemben MG, Witten MS, Carter JM, Eliot KA, Knehans AW, Bemben DA. The effects of supplementation with creatine and protein on muscle strength following a traditional resistance training program in middle-aged and older men. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 2010; 14(2), 155-159.
7. Bernat P, Candow DG, Gryzb K, Butchart S, Schoenfeld BJ, Bruno P. Effects of high-velocity resistance training and creatine supplementation in untrained healthy aging males. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2019; 44(11), 1246-1253.
8. Bishop, D. Dietary supplements and team-sport performance. Sports medicine, 2010; 40(12), 995-1017.

9. Butts J, Jacobs B, Silvis M. Creatine use in sports. Sports health, 2018; 10(1), 31-34.
10. Camic CL, Hendrix CR, Housh TJ, Zuniga JM, Mielke M, Johnson GO, Housh DJ. The effects of polyethylene glycosylated creatine supplementation on muscular strength and power. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2010; 24(12), 3343-3351.
11. Camic CL, Housh TJ, Zuniga JM, Traylor DA, Bergstrom HC, Schmidt RJ, Housh DJ. The effects of polyethylene glycosylated creatine supplementation on anaerobic performance measures and body composition. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2014; 28(3), 825-833.
12. Candow DG, Chilibeck PD, Burke DG, Mueller KD, Lewis JD. Effect of different frequencies of creatine supplementation on muscle size and strength in young adults. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2011; 25(7), 1831-1838.
13. Candow DG, Vogt E, Johannsmeyer S, Forbes SC, Farthing JP. Strategic creatine supplementation and resistance training in healthy older adults. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2015; 40(7), 689-694.
14. Candow DG, Zello GA, Ling B, Farthing JP, Chilibeck PD, McLeod K, Johnson S. Comparison of creatine supplementation before versus after supervised resistance training in healthy older adults. Research in Sports Medicine, 2014; 22(1), 61-74.
15. Carvalho APPF, Molina GE, Fontana KE. Creatine supplementation associated with resistance training does not alter renal and hepatic functions. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 2011; 17(4), 237-241
16. Chilibeck PD, Candow DG, Landeryou T, Kaviani M, Paus-Jenssen L. Effects of creatine and resistance training on bone health in postmenopausal women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2015; 47(8), 1587-1595.
17. Claudino JG, Mezêncio B, Amaral S, Zanetti V, Benatti F, Roschel H, Serrão JC. Creatine monohydrate supplementation on lower-limb muscle power in Brazilian elite soccer players. Journal of the international society of sports nutrition, 2014; 11(1), 1-6.
18. Cook CJ, Crewther BT, Kilduff LP, Drawer S, Gaviglio CM. Skill execution and sleep deprivation: effects of acute caffeine or creatine supplementation-a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the international society of sports nutrition, 2011; 8(1), 1-8.
19. Cooke MB, Brabham B, Buford TW, Shelmadine BD, McPheeters M, Hudson, GM, Willoughby DS. Creatine supplementation post-exercise does not enhance training-induced adaptations in middle to older aged males. European journal of applied physiology, 2014; 114(6), 1321-1332.
20. Cooper R, Naclerio F, Allgrove J, Jimenez A. Creatine supplementation with specific view to exercise/sports performance: an update. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2012; 9(1), 1-11.
21. Crisafulli DL, Buddhadev HH, Brilla LR, Chalmers GR, Suprak DN, San Juan JG. Creatine-electrolyte supplementation improves repeated sprint cycling performance: A double blind randomized control study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2018; 15(1), 1-11.
22. de Salles Painelli V, Alves VT, Ugrinowitsch, C., Benatti, F. B., Artioli, G. G., Lancha, AH, Roschel, H. Creatine supplementation prevents acute strength loss induced by concurrent exercise. European journal of applied physiology, 2014; 114(8), 1749-1755.
23. Devries MC, Phillips SM. Creatine supplementation during resistance training in older adults—a meta-analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2014; 46(6), 1194-1203.
24. Dolan E, Gualano B, Rawson ES. Beyond muscle: the effects of creatine supplementation on brain creatine, cognitive processing, and traumatic brain injury. European journal of sport science, 2019; 19(1), 1-14.
25. Fernández-Landa J, Calleja-González J, León-Guereño P, Caballero-García A, Córdova A, Mielgo-Ayuso J. Effect of the combination of creatine monohydrate plus HMB supplementation on sports performance, body composition, markers of muscle damage and hormone status: A systematic review. Nutrients, 2019; 11(10), 2528.
26. Forbes SC, Sletten N, Durrer C, Myette-Côté É, Candow D, Little JP. Creatine monohydrate supplementation does not augment fitness, performance, or body composition adaptations in response to four weeks of high-intensity interval training in young females. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 2017; 27(3), 285-292.
27. Forbes SC, Chilibeck PD, Candow DG. Creatine supplementation during resistance training does not lead to greater bone mineral density in older humans: a brief meta-analysis. Frontiers in nutrition, 2018; 5, 27.
28. Fukuda DH, Smith AE, Kendall KL, Dwyer TR, Kerksick CM, Beck TW, Stout JR. The effects of creatine loading and gender on anaerobic running capacity. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2010; 24(7), 1826-1833.
29. Gualano B, Macedo AR, Alves CRR, Roschel H, Benatti FB, Takayama L, Pereira R MR. Creatine supplementation and resistance training in vulnerable older women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Experimental gerontology, 2014; 53, 7-15.
30. Hall M, Trojian T H. Creatine supplementation. Current sports medicine reports, 2013; 12(4), 240-244.
31. Hammett ST, Wall MB, Edwards TC, Smith, AT. Dietary supplementation of creatine monohydrate reduces the human fMRI BOLD signal. Neuroscience letters, 2010; 479(3), 201-205.
32. Harris R. Creatine in health, medicine and sport: an introduction to a meeting held at Downing College, University of Cambridge, July 2010. Amino Acids, 2011; 40:1267–1270.
33. Havenetidis K. The use of creatine supplements in the military. BMJ Military Health, 2016; 162(4), 242-248.
34. Heaton LE, Davis JK, Rawson ES, Nuccio RP, Witard OC, Stein KW, Baker LB. Selected in-season nutritional strategies to enhance recovery for team sport athletes: a practical overview. Sports Medicine, 2017; 47(11), 2201-2218.
35. Hickner RC, Dyck DJ, Sklar J, Hatley H, Byrd P. Effect of 28 days of creatine ingestion on muscle metabolism and performance of a simulated cycling road race. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2010; 7(1), 1-13.
36. Jäger R, Purpura M, Shao A, Inoue T, Kreider RB. Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and regulatory status of novel forms of creatine. Amino acids, 2011; 40(5), 1369-1383.
37. Jagim AR, Oliver JM, Sanchez A, Galvan E, Fluckey J, Riechman S, Kreider RBA. Buffered form of creatine does not promote greater changes in muscle creatine content, body composition, or training adaptations than creatine monohydrate. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2012; 9(1), 1-18.
38. Johannsmeyer S, Candow DG, Brahms CM, Michel D, Zello GA. Effect of creatine supplementation and drop-set resistance training in untrained aging adults. Experimental Gerontology, 2016; 83, 112-119.
39. Kaviani M, Abassi A, Chilibeck PD. Creatine monohydrate supplementation during eight weeks of progressive resistance training increases strength in as little as two weeks without reducing markers of muscle damage. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2018; 59(4), 608-612.
40. Kerksick CM, Arent S, Schoenfeld BJ, Stout JR, Campbell B, Wilborn CD, Antonio J. International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutrient timing. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2017; 14(1), 1-21.
41. Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, Smith-Ryan A, Kleiner SM, Jäger R, Kreider RB. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2018; 15(1), 1-57.
42. Kim J, Lee J, Kim S, Yoon D, Kim J, Sung DJ. Role of creatine supplementation in exercise-induced muscle damage: a mini review. Journal of exercise rehabilitation, 2015; 11(5), 244.
43. Kreider RB, Jung YP. Invite review: creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry, 2011; 15(2), 53-69.
44. Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, Ziegenfuss TN, Wildman R, Collins R, Lopez H L. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2017; 14(1), 1-18.
45. Lamontagne-Lacasse M, Goulet ED. Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Jumping Performance In Highly-Trained Volleyball Players: A Pilot Study: 1917Board# 46 June 3 8: 00 AM-9: 30 AM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2010; 42(5), 444.
46. Lobo DM, Tritto AC, da Silva LR, de Oliveira PB, Benatti FB, Roschel H, Pereira R MR. Effects of long-term low-dose dietary creatine supplementation in older women. Experimental gerontology, 2015; 70, 97-104.
47. Manini TM, Clark BC. What we have learned from exercise and lifestyle trials to alleviate mobility impairment in older adults. The Journal of frailty & aging, 2013; 2(1), 57.
48. Merege-Filho CAA, Otaduy MCG, de Sá-Pinto AL, de Oliveira MO, de Souza Gonçalves L, Hayashi APT, Gualano B. Does brain creatine content rely on exogenous creatine in healthy youth? A proof-of-principle study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2017; 42(2), 128-134.
49. Mielgo-Ayuso J, Calleja-Gonzalez J, Marqués-Jiménez D, Caballero-García A, Córdova A, Fernández-Lázaro D. Effects of creatine supplementation on athletic performance in soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 2019; 11(4), 757.
50. Mills S, Candow DG, Forbes SC, Neary JP, Ormsbee MJ, Antonio J. Effects of Creatine Supplementation during Resistance Training Sessions in Physically Active Young Adults. Nutrients, 2020; 12(6), 1880.
51. Mohebbi H, Rahnama N, Moghadassi M, Ranjbar K. Effect of creatine supplementation on sprint and skill performance in Young Soccer Players. Middle-East J Sci Res, 2012; 12(3), 397-401.
52. Momaya A, Fawal M, Estes R. Performance-enhancing substances in sports: a review of the literature. Sports Medicine, 2015; 45(4), 517-531.
53. Nemezio KMDA, Bertuzzi R, Correia-Oliveira CR, Gualano B, Bishop DJ, Lima-Silva AE. Effect of creatine loading on oxygen uptake during a 1-km cycling time trial. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2015; 47(12), 2660-2668.
54. Nunes JP, Ribeiro AS, Schoenfeld BJ, Tomeleri CM, Avelar A, Trindade MC, Cyrino ES. Creatine supplementation elicits greater muscle hypertrophy in upper than lower limbs and trunk in resistance-trained men. Nutrition and health, 2017; 23(4), 223-229.
55. Pinto CL, Botelho PB, Carneiro JA, Mota JF. Impact of creatine supplementation in combination with resistance training on lean mass in the elderly. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2016; 7(4), 413-421.
56. Rae CD, Bröer S. (2015). Creatine as a booster for human brain function. How might it work?. Neurochemistry international, 89, 249-259.
57. Ramírez-Campillo R, González-Jurado JA, Martínez C, Nakamura FY, Peñailillo L, Meylan CM, Izquierdo M. Effects of plyometric training and creatine supplementation on maximal-intensity exercise and endurance in female soccer players. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 2016; 19(8), 682-687.
58. Rawson ES, Venezia AC. Use of creatine in the elderly and evidence for effects on cognitive function in young and old. Amino acids, 2011; 40(5), 1349-1362.
59. Rawson ES, Miles MP, Larson-Meyer DE. Dietary supplements for health, adaptation, and recovery in athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2018; 28(2), 188-199.
60. Smith AE, Fukuda DH, Ryan ED, Kendall KL, Cramer JT, Stout J. Ergolytic/ergogenic effects of creatine on aerobic power. International journal of sports medicine, 2011; 32(12), 975-981.
61. Stares A, Bains M. The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging Population: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2020; 43(2), 99-112.
62. Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: nutrition and athletic performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016; 116(3), 501-528.
63. Tscholl P, Alonso JM, Dollé G, Junge A, Dvorak J. The use of drugs and nutritional supplements in top-level track and field athletes. The American journal of sports medicine, 2010; 38(1), 133-140.
64. Turner CE, Byblow W D, Gant N. Creatine supplementation enhances corticomotor excitability and cognitive performance during oxygen deprivation. Journal of Neuroscience, 2015; 35(4), 1773-1780.
65. Wang CC, Fang CC, Lee YH, Yang MT, Chan KH. Effects of 4-week creatine supplementation combined with complex training on muscle damage and sport performance. Nutrients, 2018; 10(11), 1640.
66. Williams J, Abt G, Kilding AE. Effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on simulated soccer performance. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 2014; 9(3), 503-510.
67. Yáñez-Silva A, Buzzachera CF, Piçarro IDC, Januario RS, Ferreira LH, McAnulty SR, Souza-Junior TP. Effect of low dose, short-term creatine supplementation on muscle power output in elite youth soccer players. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2017; 14(1), 1-8.
68. Zuniga JM, Housh TJ, Camic CL, Hendrix CR, Mielke M, Johnson GO, Schmidt RJ. The effects of creatine monohydrate loading on anaerobic performance and one-repetition maximum strength. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2012; 26(6), 1651-1656.