The Effects of Nutritional Supplementation on Occupational Performance in Firefighters

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of protein and carbohydrate supplementation, with and without creatine, on occupational performance in firefighters. Research has examined the effects of adding creatine to whey protein and carbohydrates on training adaptations in resistance-trained individuals with mixed finding. Furthermore, the ergogenic benefit of protein and carbohydrate supplementation, with or without creatine, in firefighters is largely unknown. Therefore, the primary aim of the current study was to examine the effects of protein and carbohydrate supplementation, with or without creatine, on occupational performance in firefighters.

Official Title
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The Effects of Protein and Carbohydrate Supplementation, With and Without Creatine, on Occupational Performance in Firefighters

Conditions
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Fatigue

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate
* Dietary Supplement: Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Being a firefighter between the ages of 18-55 years of age, and medically cleared for field duty. Exclusion Criteria: Any current musculoskeletal or neurological condition that would prohibit the completion of performance testing.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

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: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Creatine Monohydrate Group<br>25 grams of Whey Protein Isolate + 25 grams of Carbohydrate Powder + 5 grams of Creatine | Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate<br>* Participants were assigned to ingest a single serving daily of either A) a 25-gram dose of whey protein isolate + 25-gram dose of carbohydrate powder (ProCarb); or B) a 25-gram dose of Whey Protein Isolate + 25-gram dose of carbohydrate powder + 5-gram dose of creatine monohydrate (Creatine) for a 17-21-day period.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Non Creatine Group<br>25 grams of Whey Protein Isolate + 25 grams of Carbohydrate Powder only | Dietary Supplement: Control<br>* A 25-gram dose of whey protein isolate + 25-gram dose of carbohydrate powder (ProCarb)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time to completion | Time to completion for tasks including a hose carry, body drag, stair climb, and forcible entry (Keiser sled hammer) for time. For the hose carry, firefighters advanced a 30.48 m section of a charged 4.45 cm hose line over a distance of 30.5 m in a straight line before flowing water for 2 seconds. Rescue consisted of firefighters being instructed to grasp a mannequin (mass 50 kg, height: 180 cm) underneath the shoulders using a seatbelt grip and dragging the mannequin 30.5 m backward. This test is known as the body drag. Stair climb consisted of climbing four flights of stairs and returning to the bottom as quickly as possible. In the forcible entry, firefighters struck a simulated forcible entry chopping device (Keiser FORCE Machine, Keiser Co., USA) using a 3.6 kg sledgehammer until completed. The total time to complete each task was recorded, in addition to the total completion time for all tasks summed together. | 24 Days | 
| Time Trial | A maximal effort, 3.5 km time trial on an air-braked cycle ergometer (Assault Bike, As-sault Fitness Products, Carlsbad, CA, USA). | 24 Days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Creatine