Creatine supplementation reduces plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and PGE2 after a half-ironman competition.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 17917696 · doi:10.1007/s00726-007-0582-4
What was done
Eleven experienced triathletes were randomized in a double-blind design to receive either creatine (20 g/day, n = 5) or carbohydrate control (20 g/day, n = 6) for 5 days prior to a half-ironman competition. Blood samples were collected 48 hours pre-competition and at 24 and 48 hours post-competition to measure plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, and PGE2.
What was found
Pre-competition baseline plasma levels (pg/ml, mean +/- SEM) did not differ between groups: IL-6 (7.08 +/- 0.63), TNF-alpha (76.50 +/- 5.60), IFN-alpha (18.32 +/- 1.20), IL-1beta (23.42 +/- 5.52), and PGE2 (39.71 +/- 3.8). At 24 and 48 hours post-competition, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, IL-1beta, and PGE2 increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05), but the increase was markedly reduced in the creatine group. IL-6 increased only at 24 hours post-competition, with no difference between groups. Post-competition numerical values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study provides preliminary evidence that short-term creatine supplementation may reduce systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine and PGE2 responses following strenuous endurance competition.
Limits
The study is limited by an extremely small sample size (n = 11 total). The abstract does not provide exact post-exercise numerical values, confidence intervals, or functional recovery outcomes.
Cited by
- supports Athletes who took 20 g of creatine per day for 5 days prior to an Ironman triathlon exhibited reductions in inflammatory markers.