Effect of short-term creatine supplementation on markers
of skeletal muscle damage after strenuous contractile activity
Eur J Appl Physiol (2010) 108:945–955
Reinaldo Abunasser Bassit • Carlos Hermano da Justa Pinheiro
The protective effect of short-term creatine
supplementation (CrS) upon markers of strenuous contractile
activity-induced damage in human and rat skeletal
muscles was investigated. Eight Ironman triathletes were
randomized into the placebo (Pl; n = 4) and creatinesupplemented
(CrS; n = 4) groups. Five days prior to the
Ironman competition, the CrS group received creatine
monohydrate (20 g day-1) plus maltodextrin (50 g) divided
in two equal doses. The Pl group received maltodextrin
(50 g day-1) only. The effect of CrS (5 g day-1/kg body
weight for 5 days) was also evaluated in a protocol of
strenuous contractile activity induced by electrical stimulation
in rats. Blood samples were collected before and 36
and 60 h after the competition and were used to determine
plasma activities of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase
(LDH), aldolase (ALD), glutamic oxaloacetic
acid transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase
(GPT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. In rats,
plasma activities of CK and LDH, muscle vascular permeability
(MVP) using Evans blue dye, muscle force and
fatigue were evaluated. Activities of CK, ALD, LDH,
GOT, GTP, and levels of CRP were increased in the Pl
group after the competition as compared to basal values.
CrS decreased plasma activities of CK, LDH, and ALD,
and prevented the rise of GOT and GPT plasma activities.
In rats, CrS delayed the fatigue, preserved the force, and
prevented the rise of LDH and CK plasma activities and
MVP in the gastrocnemius muscle. CrS presented a protective
effect on muscle injury induced by strenuous contractile
activities.