THE EFFECTS OF CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON SINGLE AND INTERMITTENT ANAEROBIC EXERCISES AND BODY COMPOSITION DURING REDUCED TRAINING IN SOCCER PLAYERS

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Abstract: BACKGROUNDː Several studies have examined the effects of creatine supplementation in adult athletes in season or pre-season preparation. However, few studies have examined the effects of creatine supplementation in adolescent soccer players during reduced training in an off-season. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of short-term creatine monohydrate supplementation on the anaerobic performance and body composition in adolescent soccer players during reduced training in an off-season. METHODSː Using a double-blind experiment design, 16 soccer players (aged 18.0 ± 0.8 yr) were randomly assigned to 5 days of either 20 g . day-1 creatine monohydrate (Cr) or placebo supplementation. One day before and a day after the supplementation, participants completed squat and countermovement jumps (SJ, CMJ), 10-m running sprint, 6-s single cycling sprint (CST), an intermittent anaerobic test on a bicycle ergometer (10 x 6s, IAnTBE) and measurement of body composition. RESULTSː Cr supplementation had no significant effect (p > .05) on any performance test. However, effect size values indicated medium or small clinical significance in SJ (d = 0.59), CST (6-s power, d = 0.50; peak power, d = 0.48) and IAnTBE (best peak power, d = 0.44; post-exercise blood lactate concentration, d = - 0.59; fatigue index, d = - 0.28 ). Relative to the placebo, Cr supplementation resulted in a significant increase in body weight (BW) (p = .015). CONCLUSIONSː The results of the study suggest that short-term Cr supplementation administered to adolescent soccer players during their off-season significantly increase body weight and could have small/medium clinical significance effect on improve lower-body maximal anaerobic power output and power output recovery during maximal intermittent exercise. The study also confirms that Cr supplementation is safe and without side effects for adolescent athletes.