Effect of a 10-Week Strength Training Program and Recovery Supplement on Anaerobic Performance

Abstract

0852 The purpose of this study was to determine whether post-exercise consumption of a supplement containing creatine, whey protein and amino acids, and carbohydrate (fructose and maltodextrin) during a 10-week strength training program promoted greater improvement in anaerobic performance compared with placebo and strength training. Methods. The study was double-blind and placebo controlled. Forty-three college-aged males were randomly assigned to receive supplement or placebo immediately after exercise. Subjects participated in a 10-week periodized strength training program with exercises for the legs and abdominal muscles on Monday and Thursday and exercises for the chest, back, arms and shoulders on Tuesday and Friday. Subjects had to complete at least 70% of the workouts and receive > of the supplement/placebo doses in order to remain in the study. Before and after the strength training program, anaerobic performance was assessed with a 30-second Wingate cycle test using an Excalibur cycle ergometer (Lode, Netherlands). Data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA (time × group) with repeated measures on time. P < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results. Twenty-nine subjects (placebo: n = 12; supplement: n = 17) completed the study. Peak power, mean power and anaerobic power increased across groups over the 10-week strength training period, but there was no change for anaerobic capacity and fatigue rate. There were no significant time × group interactions for peak power (p = 0.056), mean power (p = 0.097), anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity or fatigue rate. There were trends for greater increases in peak and mean power for the supplement group. Effect sizes for peak power and mean power were large, Eta2 = 0.133 and 0.103, respectively. The supplement group had a 11.3 % improvement in peak power compared to a 3.5 % increase for the placebo group. The supplement group had a 5.8 % improvement in mean power compared to a 2.2 % increase for the placebo group. Conclusion. During a strength training program of short duration, consumption of a post-exercise supplement containing creatine, whey protein, amino acids and carbohydrate did not result in significantly greater improvement in anaerobic performance compared with placebo.