Will taking a creatine supplement improve performance?
Research results are NOT consistent regarding improved performance as a result of creatine supplementation. A number of factors may explain these discrepancies. The following is a summary of recent research. Following supplementation, usually with creatine monohydrate, performance may improve during the later repetitions when brief, high-intensity activities are performed repeatedly (for example, six-second sprints on a bicycle ergometer). Most studies show little or no improvement in performance of a single effort, and no increase in the maximum speed that can be reached by an athlete during a sprint. The response to creatine supplementation varies from one person to another. In controlled laboratory tests, when initial muscle creatine levels were low, there was greater improvement. There was little or no improvement if muscle creatine levels were high or near normal. Creatine supplementation is associated with weight gain (see side-effects). Where an increase in body weight has a det
