Tomcik KA, et al. – An inspection was performed of the metabolic and performance effects of a combined creatine and CHO–loading regiment on time–trial (TT) cycling bouts. An increase was seen in the power output in the closing sprints of exhaustive time–trial cycling, with the creatine ingestion regardless of a creatine–mediated increase in weight. Hence, the creatine co–supplemented with carbohydrates could serve as a beneficial strategy for late–stage breakaway moments in endurance events.

Methods

• 18 well-trained (∼65mL[BULLET OPERATOR]kg-1[BULLET OPERATOR]min-1 VO2peak) males were recruited for this study.
• They completed 3 performance trials (PT) comprised of a 120-km cycling TT interspersed with alternating 1- and 4-km sprints (6 sprints each) performed every 10-km followed by an inclined ride to fatigue (∼90% VO2peak).
• The candidates were pair-matched into either creatine-loaded (20g[BULLET OPERATOR]d-1 for 5d + 3 g[BULLET OPERATOR]d-1 for 9d; CR) or placebo (PLA) groups (n=9) following the completion of PT1.
• They undertook a cross-over application of the carbohydrate interventions, consuming either moderate-(6g[BULLET OPERATOR]kg-1 body mass (BM)/d; MOD) or CHO-loaded (12g[BULLET OPERATOR]kg^-1 BM/d; LOAD) diets before PT2 and PT3.
• Muscle biopsies were taken before the PT1, 18h post-PT1, and prior to both PT2 and PT3.

Results

• There were no marked variations in the overall TT or inclined ride times among the intervention groups.
• PLA+LOAD improved power above baseline (P<0.05) during the final 1-km sprint whereas CR+ MOD and CR+LOAD improved power (P<0.05) during the final 4-km sprint.
• Greater power was achieved with MOD and LOAD than the baseline with PLA (P<0.05).
• CR increased pre-PT BM compared to PLA (+1.54% vs +0.99% from baseline).
• CR+LOAD enabled greater [total creatine] (P<0.05 vs. baseline) and muscle [glycogen] (P<0.01 vs. baseline and MOD) compared to PLA+LOAD.
• A decrease was reported in the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) from baseline following glycogen depletion (∼30%; P< 0.05).