Creatine Monohydrate Versus Creatine Hydrochloride on Strength and Body Composition in Elite Team-Sport Athletes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A triple-arm double-blinded placebo-controlled repeated-measures randomized clinical trial in Colombian elite team-sport athletes. The aim is to evaluate the effects on strength-related parameters and body composition after eight weeks of supplementation with creatine monohydrate (CrM) and creatine hydrochloride (Cr-HCl). The study will be reported following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension to Multi-Arm Parallel-Group Randomized Trials. All variables will be measured at baseline and after eight weeks.

Detailed Description
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Creatine monohydrate (CrM) is the most studied nutritional supplement and, therefore, one of the most popular ergogenic nutritional aids for athletes. Studies have shown that CrM supplementation increases intramuscular creatine concentrations which enhances exercise performance and improves body composition in different populations (from young athletes to older adults). It is important to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recognized CrM as a safe ingredient (Generally Recognized as Safe, GRAS - No. GRN 000931). In spite of this, other forms such as creatine chloride (Cr-HCl) have been marketed as a more bioavailable sources of creatine. Since there are not studies that rigorously compare the effects of CrM versus Cr-HCl on physical performance and body composition, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a 8-week supplementation protocol with the two forms of creatine (comparing to placebo) on neuromuscular strength and body composition in Colombian elite team-sport athletes.

Official Title
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Creatine Monohydrate Versus Creatine Hydrochloride on Strength and Body Composition in Elite Team-Sport Athletes: A Three-arm Placebo-controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Conditions
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Healthy Lifestyle

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo
* Dietary Supplement: Creatine Hydrochloride


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Practicing team sports at the competitive level (handball and softball) Having at least one year of competitive sports training experience (including strength training at least three times a week), Being attended at INDEPORTES Antioquia. Exclusion Criteria: Those who do not wish to participate voluntarily (do not sign informed consent), Those who were taking nutritional supplements (including creatine) eight weeks prior to the start of the study, Those who had a diagnosed pathology or health issues.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This was a double-blinded placebo-controlled repeated-measures randomized clinical trial in elite team-sport athletes with three arms in parallel.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Creatine monohydrate<br>5 g of creatine monohydrate per day for eight weeks | Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate<br>* The CrM group supplemented the diet with five grams of micronized creatine monohydrate per day for eight weeks. The CrM supplement was fully dissolved in ≈500 mL of water and drank immediately after each training session (in the morning on non-training days).<br>|
| Experimental: Creatine hydrochloride<br>5 g of creatine hydrochloride per day for eight weeks | Dietary Supplement: Creatine Hydrochloride<br>* The Cr-HCl group supplemented the diet with five grams of micronized creatine monohydrate per day for eight weeks. The Cr-HCl supplement was fully dissolved in ≈500 mL of water and drank immediately after each training session (in the morning on non-training days).<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>5 g of maltodextrin per day for eight weeks | Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* A placebo group intakes five grams of maltodextrin daily throughout the study. The placebo supplement was fully dissolved in ≈500 mL of water and drank immediately after each training session (in the morning on non-training days).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lower-limb muscle power | Countermovement and drop jump will be performed on contact mat (height in centimeters and time of flight in seconds) | Eight weeks | 
| Neuromuscular strength | The load-velocity profile in squat and bench press exercises will be obtained with a linear position transducer (load in kilograms versus mean propulsive velocity in meters per second). | Eight weeks | 
| Upper-limb muscle strength | Maximal shoulder external and internal strength will be measure with a isokinetic dynamometer. | Eight weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Body composition | Body composition was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Fat mass and lean mass in kilograms were reported. | Eight weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Creatine, Strength, Body Composition, Athletic performance, Nutritional supplementation