Researchers from the University of California San Francisco studied whether creatine supplementation augments the effects of progressive resistance exercise training on muscle strength, energetics, and body composition.

First, the details.

• 40 HIV-positive men were enrolled in a 14-week study.
• They were randomly assigned to a treatment group.
• Creatine monohydrate starting with a loading dose of 20 grams/day for 5 days, followed by maintenance dosing of 4.8 grams/day.
• Placebo
• Beginning at week 2 through week 14, everyone underwent 3-times weekly supervised resistance exercise.

And, the results.

• Strength increased in all 8 muscle groups studied, but this increase was not augmented by creatine supplementation.
• There were no differences between groups in changes in muscle energetics (transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism).
• Thigh muscle cross-sectional area increased following resistance exercise, with no additive effect of creatine.
• Lean body mass increased significantly more with creatine.

The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “While creatine supplementation produced a greater increase in lean body mass, it did not augment the robust increase in strength derived from progressive resistance training.”

5/18/09 19:05 JR