The effects of short term creatine supplementation on muscular strength and body composition in university athlete's females

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of short term of creatine supplementation on muscular strength and body composition in university athlete’s females. Twenty-four university athletes volunteers randomly assigned to three groups of creatine (Cr, n=8), placebo (P, n=8) and control(C, n=8) with no significant mean at pretest measures. After familiarization with testing procedures, pretrial measures of muscle function (5 repetitions 60 deg. s-1 and 50 repetitions 180 deg. s-1) were conducted during maximal voluntary concentric contraction of thepreferred quadriceps muscle using an isokinetic dynamometer. Body composition and thigh circumference were measured before and after 6 days. Cr group ingested 5 g of creatine monohydrate in a flavored sucrose drink four times per day for 6 day. Placebo group ingested a starched, sucrose drink and control group didn’t ingest any things. Results showed body mass, lean tissue mass, percent body fat and thigh circumference did not change for three groups between trials. Strength in knee flexors muscle (60 deg. s-1 and 180 deg. s-1), average power and total work in flexors and extensors muscle (60 deg. s-1) increased in Cr group compared to the other groups (p< 0.05). There were no significant changes between groups in extensors strength (60 deg. s-1 and 180 deg. s-1), average power and total work in flexors and extensors muscle (180 deg. s-1). We conclude that creatine monohydrate improves some index of muscle performance in women without significant gains in muscle volume or body weight.