Creatine Supplementation May Attenuate the Decrement in Exercise Performance during Low Carbohydrate Diets in Recreationally Trained Individuals Original Research
Main Article Content
Keywords
high-intensity exercise, exercise tolerance, repeated-bout
Abstract
Introduction: Low carbohydrate (L-CHO) diets may be an effective means for weight loss; however, these L-CHO diets often result in decreases in exercise performance during high-intensity, interval exercise test (HIIET).
Methods: Nineteen, healthy, recreationally active adults participated in this study. Subjects were assigned to one of three groups: control (CON), L-CHO diet w/ placebo (L-CHO), or L-CHO diet w/ creatine supplementation (L-CHO+Cr). Subjects performed HIIET to fatigue at 90% peak power output (PPO) with a 1:1 work-to-recovery ratio of 30 s. Dietary intervention consisted of <30% total intake of carbohydrates, while creatine supplementation consisted of a standard loading dose (20 g/day) or placebo (5 g/day).
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in HIIET performance (# of intervals completed) in the L-CHO+Cr group (Pre-: 28.9 ± 18.6; Post-: 32.4 ± 18.3, p > 0.05). When expressed as a % change from pre-dietary intervention, L-CHO resulted in the greatest decrease in HIIET performance (L-CHO: -35 ± 14; CON: 12 ± 10; L-CHO+Cr: 31 ± 11 % change from pre-, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The addition of a standard loading dose of creatine during a L-CHO diet may help to attenuate the decrement in HIIET performance.
References
2. Burke LM, Ross ML, Garvican-Lewis LA, Welvaert M, Heikura IA, Forbes SG, Mirtschin JG, Cato LE, Strobel N, Sharma AP, Hawley JA. Low carbohydrate, high fat diet impairs exercise economy and negates the performance benefit from intensified training in elite race walkers. J Physiol. 2017;595(9). https://doi.org/10.1113/JP273230
3. Cipryan L, Plews DJ, Feretti A, Maffetone PB, Laursen PB. Effects of a 4-week very low-carbohydrate diet on high-intensity interval training responses. J Sports Sci Med. 2018;17.
4. Coyle EF & Hodgkinson BJ. Influence of dietary fat and carbohydrate on exercise metabolism and performance. In: Lamb DR & Murray R, eds. The Metabolic Basis of Performance in Exercise and Sport. Traverse City, MI: Cooper Publishing Group; 2001:165-194.
5. Demarle AP, Slawinski JJ, Laffite LP, Bocquet VG, Koralsztein JP, Billat VL. Decrease of O2 deficit is a potential factor in increase time to exhaustion after specific endurance training. J Appl Physiol. 2001;90. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2001.90.3.947.
6. Esfarjani F & Laursen PB. Manipulating high-intensity interval training: effects on VO2max, the lactate threshold, and 3000m running performance in moderately trained males. J Sci Med Sports. 2007;10.
7. Forbes SC, Slade JM, Meyer RA. Short-term high-intensity interval training improves phosphocreatine recovery kinetics following moderate-intensity exercise in humans. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008;33. https://doi.org/10.1139/H08-099.
8. Gillen JB & Gibala MJ. Is high-intensity interval training a time-efficient exercise strategy to improve health and fitness? Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2014;39. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2013-0187.
9. Greenhaff PL, Gleeson M, Maughan RJ. Diet-induced metabolic acidosis and the performance on high-intensity exercise in man. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1988;57.
10. Greenhaff PL, Bodin K, Soderlund K, Hultman E. Effect of oral creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle phosphocreatine resynthesis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 1994;266. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.1994.266.5.E725.
11. Harris RC, Soderlund K, Hultman E. Elevation of creatine in resting and exercised muscle of normal subjects by creatine supplementation. Clin Sci. 1992;83. https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0830367.
12. Hawley JA. Fat Adaptation Science: Low-carbohydrate, High-Fat Diets to Alter Fuel Utilization and Promote Training Adaptation. In: Maughan RJ & Burke LM, eds. Sports Nutrition: More than Just Calories – Triggers for Adaptation. Switzerland: Nestle Ltd; 2011:59-77.
13. Izquierdo MM, Ibanez JM, Gonzalez-Badillo JJ, Gorostiaga EM. Effects of creatine supplementation on muscle power, endurance, and sprint performance. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 2002;34. DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200202000-00023.
14. Kendall KL, Smith AE, Graef JL, Fukuda DH, Moon JR, Beck TW. Effects of four weeks of high intensity interval training and creatine supplementation on critical power and anaerobic working capacity in college-aged men. J Strength Cond Res. 2009;23. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b1fd1f.
15. Kent-Braun JA, Fitts RH, Christie A. Skeletal muscle fatigue. Compr Physiol. 2012;2. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c110029.
16. Lambert EV, Hawley JA, Goedecke J, Noakes TD, Dennis SC. Nutritional strategies for promoting fat utilization and delating the onset of fatigue during prolonged exercise. J Sports Sci. 1997;15. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404197367326.
17. Larson DE, Hesslink RL, Hrovat MI, Fishman RS, Systrom DM. Dietary effects on exercising muscle metabolism and performance by 31P-MRS. J Appl Physiol. 1994;77. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1994.77.3.1108.
18. Lima-Silva AE, Pires FO, Bertuzzi R, Silva-Cavalcante MD, Oliveira RS, Kiss MA, Bishop D. Effects of a low- or a high-carbohydrate diet on performance, energy system contribution, and metabolic responses during supramaximal exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013;38. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2012-0467.
19. Prevost MC, Nelson AG, Morris GS. Creatine supplementation enhances intermittent work performance. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1997;68. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1997.10608002.
20. Rawson ES, Stec MJ, Frederickson SJ, Miles MP. Low-dose creatine supplementation enhances fatigue resistance in the absence of weight gain. Nutrition. 2011;27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2010.04.001.
21. Romijn JA, Coyle EF, Sidossis LS, Gastaldelli A, Horowitz JF, Endert E, Wolfe RR. Regulation of endogenous fat and carbohydrate metabolism in relation to exercise intensity and duration. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 1993;265. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.1993.265.3.E380/
22. Sahlin K. Muscle energetics during explosive activities and potential effects of nutrition and training. Sports Med. 2014;44.
23. Spriet LL, Howlett RA, Heigenhauser GJF. An enzymatic approach to lactate production in human skeletal muscle during exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200004000-00007.
24. Spriet LL. New insights into the interaction of carbohydrate and fat metabolism during exercise. Sports Med. 2014;32.
25. Stepto NK, Carey AL, Staudacher HM, Cummings NK, Burke LM, Hawley JA. Effect of short-term fat adaptation on high-intensity training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;34. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200203000-00011.
26. Tarnopolsky MA. Caffeine and creatine use in sport. Ann Nutr Metab. 2010;57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159%2F000322696.
27. Volek JS, Quann EE, Forsythe CE. Low-carbohydrate diets promote a more favorable body composition than low-fat diets. Strength Cond J. 2010;32. DOI: 10.1519/SSC.0b013e3181c16c41
28. Westerblad H, Allen DG, Lannergren J. Muscle fatigue: lactic acid or inorganic phosphate the major cause? News Physiol Sci. 2002; 17. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiologyonline.2002.17.1.17.
29. Westerblad H, Bruton JD, Katz A. Skeletal muscle: energy metabolism, fiber types, fatigue and adaptability. Exp Cell Res. 2010;316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.05.019.
30. Yeo WK, Carey AL, Burke LM, Spriet LL, Hawley JA. Fat adaptation in well-trained athletes: effects on cell metabolism. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011;36. https://doi.org/10.1139/h10-089.