Creatine improves anaerobic performance and promotes anthropometric changes in Brazilian college soccer players

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of creatine on the body composition and performance of college soccer players. Materials and method: Sixteen amateur soccer players were supplemented with creatine (n=8) or maltodextrin (placebo, n=8) for four weeks, using a loading protocol (20g/day in the first week, followed by 5g/day for the rest of the study period). Anthropometric measurements and three physical tests were performed before and after the intervention. Results: After the protocol, the Cr group showed increased body mass (pre 65.1 ± 8.2; post 66.4 ± 8.4; p=0.002), arm (pre 27.7 ± 4.3; post 28.3 ± 4.3; p=0.01), thigh (pre 49.9 ± 4.3; post 51.3 ± 4.6; p=0.012), and leg (pre 34.6 ± 2.3; post 34.8 ± 2.4; p=0.029) circumferences. For bangsbo repeat vertical jump test (BRVJ), there was an increase in maximum power (pre 2965.4 ± 691.8; post 3102.1 ± 818; p=0.034), maximum relative power (pre 44.5 ± 6.5; post 47.1 ± 6.5; p=0.045) and average power (pre 2757.6 ± 653.2; post 2937.7 ± 739.9; p=0.05) only in the Cr group. For running anaerobic sprint test (RAST), there was a significant improvement in average sprint and total times, and in the average power for both groups; however, only the Cr group showed significant improvement in maximum power (pre 517.93 ± 118.82; post 580.15 ± 119.06; p=0.01) and maximum relative power (pre 7.9 ± 1.2; post 8.5 ± 1.3; p<0.001). For wingate test (WIN), improvements were observed in maximum power (pre 456.4 ± 91.0; post 508 ± 79.7; p=0.003), maximum relative power (pre 7.0 ± 0.9; post 7.6 ± 0.6; p=0.012), average power (pre 354.8 ± 69.5; post 410 ± 71.5; p<0.001) and relative average power (pre 5.4 ± 0.6; post 6.1 ± 0.4; p=0.012) only in the Cr group. Conclusions: This study findings demonstrated that Cr supplementation during four weeks promotes positive anthropometric and anaerobic performance changes in college soccer players, especially in lower limbs, but also in upper limbs. However, a possible body mass gain with its use should be considered, so the viability should be individually analysed.