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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Mar 20;16(6):896.
doi: 10.3390/nu16060896.

The Effect of Prior Creatine Intake for 28 Days on Accelerated Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Shota Yamaguchi  1 , Takayuki Inami  1 , Hiroyuki Ishida  2 , Akihisa Morito  3 , Satoshi Yamada  3 , Naoya Nagata  1 , Mitsuyoshi Murayama  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Effect of Prior Creatine Intake for 28 Days on Accelerated Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Shota Yamaguchi et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Despite the known beneficial effects of creatine in treating exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), its effectiveness remains unclear. This study investigates the recovery effect of creatine monohydrate (CrM) on EIMD. Twenty healthy men (21-36 years) were subjected to stratified, randomized, double-blind assignments. The creatine (CRE) and placebo (PLA) groups ingested creatine and crystalline cellulose, respectively, for 28 days. They subsequently performed dumbbell exercises while emphasizing eccentric contraction of the elbow flexors. The EIMD was evaluated before and after exercise. The range of motion was significantly higher in the CRE group than in the PLA group 24 h (h) post exercise. A similar difference was detected in maximum voluntary contraction at 0, 48, 96, and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.017-0.047). The upper arm circumference was significantly lower in the CRE group than in the PLA group at 48, 72, 96, and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.002-0.030). Similar variation was observed in the shear modulus of the biceps brachii muscle at 96 and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.003-0.021) and in muscle fatigue at 0 and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.012-0.032). These findings demonstrate CrM-mediated accelerated recovery from EIMD, suggesting that CrM is an effective supplement for EIMD recovery.

Keywords: creatine monohydrate; dietary supplementation; eccentric exercise; exercise-induced muscle damage.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that this study received funding from Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart showing the parallel randomized controlled trial process involving two groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Eccentric exercises. During the down (eccentric) phase (A), the participant extends their arms in a controlled manner; the examiner lifts the dumbbells during the up (concentric) phase (B).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in exercise-induced muscle damage indices over time. PLA, placebo group; CRE, creatine group; ROM, range of motion (A); MVC, maximum voluntary contraction (B); CIR, circumference (C); SM, shear modulus (D); UTF, urinary titanium N-terminal fragment (E); muscle fatigue (F); SOR, subjective soreness (G). * p < 0.05. Data are presented as mean ± SD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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