Creatine supplementation has been widely studied for its benefits in enhancing anaerobic energy availability and buffering capacity. However, its effects on muscle work during voluntary breath-hold (BH) exercises have not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to determine whether a 7-day creatine monohydrate loading protocol could improve BH exercise performance in trained BH divers.
The study involved a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design, assessing 20 trained BH divers (18 males, 2 females; mean age 41.6 ± 8.6 years). Participants underwent a 7-day loading protocol of creatine monohydrate at a dosage of 20 g/day. Performance outcomes and fatigue markers were measured during BH exercise performed on a bicycle ergometer.
Testing included a warm-up followed by a maximal cycling trial on a single breath, where participants aimed to cover the greatest possible distance. Pre- and post-supplementation measurements included total work (TW), time to exhaustion (TTE), peripheral blood lactate accumulation (LA), mean partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂) in exhaled air, and ratings of perceived exertion for breath-hold (RPE-BH) and muscle fatigue (RPE-MF). Additionally, body composition changes were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
The results indicated significant Time × Group interactions for TW (p = 0.011) and TTE (p = 0.028), with greater improvements observed in the creatine group compared to the placebo group. Fat-free mass also showed significant changes (p = 0.017) favoring the creatine group. Interestingly, while lactate accumulation was lower in the creatine group (p = 0.003), no significant differences were noted between groups for pCO₂, RPE-BH, RPE-MF, fat mass, or total body mass.
In conclusion, the findings suggest that creatine supplementation enhances BH exercise performance in trained divers, as evidenced by increases in TW and TTE without elevating RPE-BH. This indicates that creatine could be a potentially effective ergogenic strategy for sports involving breath-hold exercises.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish long-term effects of creatine supplementation beyond the 7-day loading period or its impact on untrained individuals.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Established
- Clinical utility: Established