Preen, D., Dawson, B., Goodman, C., Lawrence, S., Beilby, J., & Ching, S. (2001). Effect of creatine loading on long-term sprint exercise performance and metabolism. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33, 814-821.

Whether creatine supplementation enhanced long-term repeated-sprint exercise performance of approximately 80 minutes was evaluated. Untrained but active males (N = 14) performed 10 sets of either 5 or 6 x 6 seconds maximal bike sprints, with varying recoveries (24, 54, or 84 seconds between sprints) over 80 minutes. Work done and peak power were recorded for each sprint, and venous blood was collected preexercise and on four occasions during the exercise. Muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis were also collected preexercise and at 0 and 3 minutes postexercise. Ss (N = 7) were given 20 g/d of creatine or a placebo as a control group (N = 7).

Total work done and peak power increased significantly in the creatine group but not in the placebo group. Work done improved in the sets with 54 and 84 seconds rest but not when 24 seconds of rest was provided.

Implication. Creatine ingestion improved performance during a repeated-sprint exercise.

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