Research article
Does creatine supplementation improve the plasma lipid profile in healthy male subjects undergoing aerobic training?
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* Corresponding author: Bruno Gualano gualano@usp.br
1 Laboratory of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Brazil
2 Laboratory of Rheumatology Assessment and Conditioning, Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil
3 School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Chichester, UK
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2008, 5:16 doi:10.1186/1550-2783-5-16
Published: 3 October 2008Abstract
We aimed to investigate the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on the plasma lipid profile in sedentary male subjects undergoing aerobic training.
Methods
Subjects (n = 22) were randomly divided into two groups and were allocated to receive treatment with either creatine monohydrate (CR) (~20 g·day-1 for one week followed by ~10 g·day-1 for a further eleven weeks) or placebo (PL) (dextrose) in a double blind fashion. All subjects undertook moderate intensity aerobic training during three 40-minute sessions per week, over 3 months. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TAG), fasting insulin and fasting glycemia were analyzed in plasma. Thereafter, the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was calculated. Tests were performed at baseline (Pre) and after four (Post 4), eight (Post 8) and twelve (Post 12) weeks.
Results
We observed main time effects in both groups for HDL (Post 4 versus Post 8; P = 0.01), TAG and VLDL (Pre versus Post 4 and Post 8; P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). However, no between group differences were noted in HDL, LDL, CT, VLDL and TAG. Additionally, fasting insulin, fasting glycemia and HOMA did not change significantly.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that Cr supplementation does not exert any additional effect on the improvement in the plasma lipid profile than aerobic training alone.