Scientific Research

The Effects of Effervescent Creatine vs. Powder Creatine Loading on Anaerobic Working Capacity

Jeffrey R. Stout, Exercise Science Dept. Creighton University
(Pilot Study)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation with creatine monohydrate (CM), Effervescent CM (EFF-CM), or placebo on anaerobic working capacity (AWC). Using a single blind random design, 26 young adult males (X age ± SD =19.9 ± 1.6 yr.) were placed into one of three treatment conditions:

1) 20gm of Flavored CHO powder (PK, n=8);
2) 5.0g of CM in a flavored powder blend (CM, n=9);
3) 5.0g of CM with effervescent delivery in flavored powder blend (EFF-CM, n=9). The subjects completed three phases of testing on an electronically braked cycle ergometer:

1. Familiarization (three learning trials to establish work rates for subsequent testing),
2. Pre-testing (4 bouts performed at work rates selected to elicit fatigue in 1 to 10 min.),
3. Post-testing (4 bouts performed at the same work rates as pre-testing, but completed after ingesting the supplements four times per day for six consecutive days). A 3 X 2 mixed factorial ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis indicated that CM and EFF-CM supplementation significantly (p,0.05) increased AWC by 9.4% and 26.7%, respectively.

Furthermore, EFF-CM resulted in a 64% greater increase in AWC Vs CM. These data suggest that effervescent delivery may augment the effects of CM supplementation on AWC.

Funded by Fortress Systems International Nutrition, Omaha, NE