Anaerobic power output of elite off-road cyclists with acute oral creatine supplementation

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of a high dose, acute oral creatine supplementation on anaerobic power of male off-road cyclists, twenty elite athletes training at the basic period were randomly (double-blind) assigned into 2 groups: placebo (PLA n=10) and creatine (CRE n=10). They were submitted to a body composition evaluation (underwater weighting) and Wingate Anaerobic Test (TW) before (PRE) and after (POS) seven days of supplementation. The oral supplements (creatine and maltodextrine) were taken in sweetened vehicle with three equal doses per day (0. 3 g/kg body mass/dose). After a seven-day period, no significant differences were found on morphological variables (PRE x POS) and there was no difference between the groups in spite of the opposite percent variation (Δ%) (positive for CRE and negative for PLA group). The anaerobic power output (PP) and the moment of pick power (IPP) increased and the fatigue index decreased from PRE to POST tests in CRE group; however, the PLA group did not show significant differences. The PP showed strong tendency to increased values and IPP was greater in the CRE compared with the PLA group. The results of the present study indicated that short-term creatine supplementation (0.3g/kg) can postpone the anaerobic IPP (CRE 3.0 ± 0.5/3.6 ± 0.8 Δ%= 20%) leading to significant improvement on the performance of power output and peak power moment in off-road cyclists.