Sprint Cycling Performance Improvement Post-Creatine Supplementation is Associated with Increase in Lean Body Mass

Abstract

Creatine supplementation is recommended as an ergogenic aid to improve repeated cycling sprint performance. Creatine absorption is increased in the presence of electrolytes. Research examining the effect of a creatine-electrolyte (CE) supplement on repeated sprint cycling performance failed to show post-supplementation improvement. These results can be attributed to inadequate recovery periods between repeated sprints. A recovery of 2-minutes is adequate for phosphocreatine resynthesis and may allow for maximal performance during repeated cycling sprints. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a 6-week CE supplementation intervention on peak power and average work performed during repeated cycling sprints interspersed with 2-minute recovery periods. METHODS: Peak power and average work performed by 38 recreational cyclists (CE group: n = 17; 23.4 ± 4.0 years; placebo (P) group: n = 18; 23.4 ± 4.0 years) were measured on a Velotron ergometer as they completed five, 15-s cycling sprints, with two minutes of recovery between sprints, pre- and post-supplementation. Peak power was the highest overall power measured across the sprints. Average work was the mean of total work performed across the five sprints. Participants’ body composition was estimated using three site skinfold measurements. Mixed-model ANOVAs were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: For almost all participants, the peak power was generated during the first sprint. A supplement-time interaction showed a 4% increase in peak power (27 W; p < 0.001) and a 5% increase in average work (376 J; p < 0.001) from pre- to post-supplementation for the CE group. For the P group, no differences were observed in these variables from pre- to post-testing. Similarly, the lean body mass increased by 2% (1.4 kg; p = 0.001) from pre- to post-testing for the CE group, whereas no differences were found for the P group (supplement-time interaction; p = 0.001). For the CE group, a modest association (r = 0.626; p = 0.007) was observed between the increases in peak power and lean body mass from pre- to post-supplementation. CONCLUSION: A CE supplement improves repeated short duration cycling sprint performance when sprints are interspersed with adequate recovery periods. Additionally, the ergogenic effect of CE supplement is associated with an increase in lean body mass.