The Effects of Long-Term Magnesium Creatine Chelate Supplementation on Repeated Sprint Ability (RAST) in Elite Soccer Players

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of 16 weeks of a low dose of magnesium creatine chelate supplementation on repeated sprint ability test (RAST) results in elite soccer players.

Materials: Twenty well-trained soccer players participated in the study. The players were divided randomly into two groups: the supplemented group (SG = 10) and placebo group (PG = 10). Out of the 20 subjects selected for the study, 16 (SG = 8, PG = 8) completed the entire experiment. The SG ingested a single dose of 5500 mg of magnesium creatine chelate (MgCr-C), in 4 capsules per day, which was 0.07 g/kg/d. The PG received an identical 4 capsules containing corn starch. Before and after the study, the RAST was performed. In the RAST, total time (TT), first and sixth 35 m sprint length (s), average power (AP) and max power (MP) were measured. Additionally, before and after the test, lactate LA (mmol/L) and acid-base equilibrium pH (-log(H⁺)), bicarbonates HCO₃^- (mmol/L) were evaluated. Also, in serum at rest, creatinine (mg/dL) concentration was measured.

Results: After the study, significantly better results in TT, AP and MP were observed in the SG. No significant changes in the RAST results were observed in the PG. After the study, significant changes in the first 35 m sprint, as well as the sixth 35 m sprint results were registered in the SG, while insignificant changes occurred in the PG. A significantly higher creatinine concentration was observed. Also, a higher post-RAST concentration of LA, HCO₃^- and lower values of pH were observed in April, May and June compared with baseline values.

Conclusions: The long timeframe, i.e., 16 weeks, of the low dose of magnesium creatine chelate supplementation improved the RAST results in the SG. Despite the long period of MgCr-C supplementation, in the end of the study, the creatinine level in the SG reached higher but still reference values.

Keywords: RAST; anaerobic performance; creatine; soccer.

Figure 1

Scheme of testing procedures.

Figure 2

Serum creatinine concentration at baseline and during four months of supplementation in the SG and PG. SG—supplemented group, PG—placebo group. * significant difference compared with baseline in the SG, # significant difference compared with the PG.