CREATINE MAY IMPROVE
PERFORMANCE DURING SHORT BURSTS
OF ACTIVITY
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- New research suggests that the
dietary supplement creatine may enhance the performance
of elite male swimmers during short-distance swims.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that male
swimmers who took creatine for two weeks improved their
time by an average of 0.73 seconds during a 50-meter
swim.
However, female swimmers in the same study did not
appear to benefit from creatine supplementation.
This is one of the few studies that really looks at the effects
of creatine in males and in females, said Nicole Leenders,
co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in
Ohio States School of Physical Activity and Educational
Services.
But the improvement in the male swimmers speed
became apparent only after almost two weeks of taking
creatine.
The body uses phosphocreatine during high-intensity
exercise, when the muscles need a quick burst of energy.
Phosphocreatine restores ATP, a compound that serves as
fuel for muscles.
Creatine and its derivative, phosphocreatine, occur
naturally in the human body. Phosphocreatine is a
high-energy compound necessary for muscle contraction.
Some people take synthetic forms of creatine in hopes of
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Contact: Nicole Leenders
Leenders.1@osu.edu
614-292-2255
Ohio State University
20-Dec-1999