iming of Creatine Supplementation around Exercise: A Real Concern

Author(s)

Ribeiro, Felipe ^{[1, 2]} ; Longobardi, Igor ^[2] ; Perim, Pedro ^[2] ; Duarte, Breno ^[2] ; Ferreira, Pedro ^{[1, 2]} ; Gualano, Bruno ^{[2, 3]} ; Roschel, Hamilton ^[2] ; Saunders, Bryan ^{[2, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Ctr Univ Sao Camilo, BR-04263200 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Appl Physiol & Nutr Res Grp, Rheumatol Div, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Food Res Ctr FoRC, BR-05508080 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Inst Orthopaed & Traumatol, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: NUTRIENTS; v. 13, n. 8 AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/06140-5 - Acute effects of b-alanine intake on regulatory mechanisms of muscle carnosine content
• Grantee: Breno Duarte Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/50438-0 - Nutritional suplementation and exercise to optimize exercise performance: focus on individual responses and a step towards personalized sports nutrition
• Grantee: Bryan Saunders
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/19981-5 - Influence of timing of creatine intake in relation to strength training on body composition, hypertrophy, and strength performance
• Grantee: Felipe Ribeiro Dainese Candido
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation