The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle
Creatine supplementation improves anaerobic performance and recovery; however, to date, these outcomes have not been well explored in females. This study evaluated the effect of creatine monohydrate loading on exercise recovery, measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and repeated sprint performanc...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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Series: | Nutrients |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/16/3567 |
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author | Amanda N. Gordon Sam R. Moore Noah D. Patterson Maggie E. Hostetter Hannah E. Cabre Katie R. Hirsch Anthony C. Hackney Abbie E. Smith-Ryan |
author_facet | Amanda N. Gordon Sam R. Moore Noah D. Patterson Maggie E. Hostetter Hannah E. Cabre Katie R. Hirsch Anthony C. Hackney Abbie E. Smith-Ryan |
author_sort | Amanda N. Gordon |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Creatine supplementation improves anaerobic performance and recovery; however, to date, these outcomes have not been well explored in females. This study evaluated the effect of creatine monohydrate loading on exercise recovery, measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and repeated sprint performance, in women across the menstrual cycle. In this randomized, double-blind, cross-over study, 39 women (mean ± standard deviation: age: 24.6 ± 5.9 years, height: 172.5 ± 42.3 cm, weight: 65.1 ± 8.1 kg, BF: 27.4 ± 5.8%) were randomized to a creatine monohydrate (<i>n</i> = 19; 20 g per day in 4 × 5 g doses) or non-caloric PL group (<i>n</i> = 20). HRV was measured at rest and after participants completed a repeated sprint cycling test (10 × 6 s maximal sprints). Measurements were conducted before and after supplementation in the follicular/low hormone and luteal/high hormone phases. Creatine monohydrate supplementation did not influence HRV values, as no significant differences were seen in HRV values at rest or postexercise. For repeated sprint outcomes, there was a significant phase × supplement interaction (<i>p</i> = 0.048) for fatigue index, with the greatest improvement seen in high hormone in the creatine monohydrate group (−5.8 ± 19.0%) compared to changes in the PL group (0.1 ± 8.1%). Sprint performance and recovery were reduced by the high hormone for both groups. Though not statistically significant, the data suggests that creatine monohydrate could help counteract performance decrements caused by the high hormone. This data can help inform creatine monohydrate loading strategies for females, demonstrating potential benefits in the high hormone phase. |
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language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:40:43Z |
publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
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series | Nutrients |
spelling | doaj.art-9eff559ad6d146f3af32f857f4e593962023-11-19T02:29:51ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-08-011516356710.3390/nu15163567The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual CycleAmanda N. Gordon0Sam R. Moore1Noah D. Patterson2Maggie E. Hostetter3Hannah E. Cabre4Katie R. Hirsch5Anthony C. Hackney6Abbie E. Smith-Ryan7Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAApplied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAApplied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAApplied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAApplied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USADepartment of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USAApplied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAApplied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USACreatine supplementation improves anaerobic performance and recovery; however, to date, these outcomes have not been well explored in females. This study evaluated the effect of creatine monohydrate loading on exercise recovery, measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and repeated sprint performance, in women across the menstrual cycle. In this randomized, double-blind, cross-over study, 39 women (mean ± standard deviation: age: 24.6 ± 5.9 years, height: 172.5 ± 42.3 cm, weight: 65.1 ± 8.1 kg, BF: 27.4 ± 5.8%) were randomized to a creatine monohydrate (<i>n</i> = 19; 20 g per day in 4 × 5 g doses) or non-caloric PL group (<i>n</i> = 20). HRV was measured at rest and after participants completed a repeated sprint cycling test (10 × 6 s maximal sprints). Measurements were conducted before and after supplementation in the follicular/low hormone and luteal/high hormone phases. Creatine monohydrate supplementation did not influence HRV values, as no significant differences were seen in HRV values at rest or postexercise. For repeated sprint outcomes, there was a significant phase × supplement interaction (<i>p</i> = 0.048) for fatigue index, with the greatest improvement seen in high hormone in the creatine monohydrate group (−5.8 ± 19.0%) compared to changes in the PL group (0.1 ± 8.1%). Sprint performance and recovery were reduced by the high hormone for both groups. Though not statistically significant, the data suggests that creatine monohydrate could help counteract performance decrements caused by the high hormone. This data can help inform creatine monohydrate loading strategies for females, demonstrating potential benefits in the high hormone phase.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/16/3567dietary supplementfemale physiologymenstrual cycle |
spellingShingle | Amanda N. Gordon Sam R. Moore Noah D. Patterson Maggie E. Hostetter Hannah E. Cabre Katie R. Hirsch Anthony C. Hackney Abbie E. Smith-Ryan The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle Nutrients dietary supplement female physiology menstrual cycle |
title | The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle |
title_full | The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle |
title_fullStr | The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle |
title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle |
title_short | The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Loading on Exercise Recovery in Active Women throughout the Menstrual Cycle |
title_sort | effects of creatine monohydrate loading on exercise recovery in active women throughout the menstrual cycle |
topic | dietary supplement female physiology menstrual cycle |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/16/3567 |
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