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Timing of Creatine Supplementation around Exercise: A Real Concern?

Nutrients
January 1, 1970
Felipe Ribeiro et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the impact of creatine supplementation timing (pre-, during-, or post-exercise) on muscle loading and performance gains in resistance training.

Results Summary

Emerging evidence suggests greater benefits when creatine is consumed after exercise compared to pre-exercise, though methodological limitations and lack of mechanistic data prevent definitive conclusions. The study highlights the need for further research on physiological effects and optimal timing.

Population

Athletes engaged in various sports (specific demographics not detailed).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Creatine supplementation
increase
muscle creatine stores
-
-
increases
#1
Creatine supplementation
increase
intramuscular increase and subsequent performance benefits
-
-
may modify
#2
Creatine supplementation
increase
muscle loading and performance gains
-
-
greater benefits
#3
Abstract

Creatine has been considered an effective ergogenic aid for several decades; it can help athletes engaged in a variety of sports and obtain performance gains. Creatine supplementation increases muscle creatine stores; several factors have been identified that may modify the intramuscular increase and subsequent performance benefits, including baseline muscle Cr content, type II muscle fibre content and size, habitual dietary intake of Cr, aging, and exercise. Timing of creatine supplementation in relation to exercise has recently been proposed as an important consideration to optimise muscle loading and performance gains, although current consensus is lacking regarding the ideal ingestion time. Research has shifted towards comparing creatine supplementation strategies pre-, during-, or post-exercise. Emerging evidence suggests greater benefits when creatine is consumed after exercise compared to pre-exercise, although methodological limitations currently preclude solid conclusions. Furthermore, physiological and mechanistic data are lacking, in regard to claims that the timing of creatine supplementation around exercise moderates gains in muscle creatine and exercise performance. This review discusses novel scientific evidence on the timing of creatine intake, the possible mechanisms that may be involved, and whether the timing of creatine supplementation around exercise is truly a real concern.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
CreatineDietary SupplementsDrug Administration ScheduleExerciseFemaleHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalPerformance-Enhancing SubstancesTime FactorsTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations12
Citations/Year3.0
Relative Citation Ratio1.79
NIH Percentile71%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.68
Normalized Score0.66
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