TY - JOUR

T1 - No additive effect of creatine, caffeine, and sodium bicarbonate on intense exercise performance in endurance-trained individuals

AU - Moesgaard, Lukas

AU - Jessen, Søren

AU - Christensen, Peter Møller

AU - Bangsbo, Jens

AU - Hostrup, Morten

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Background: Athletes commonly use creatine, caffeine, and sodium bicarbonate for performance enhancement. While their isolated effects are well-described, less is known about their potential additive effects. Methods: Following a baseline trial, we randomized 12 endurance-trained males (age: 25 ± 5 years, VO2max: 56.7 ± 4.6 mL kg−1 min−1; mean ± SD) and 11 females (age: 25 ± 3 years, VO2max: 50.2 ± 3.4 mL kg−1 min−1) to 5 days of creatine monohydrate (0.3 g kg−1 per day) or placebo loading, followed by a daily maintenance dose (0.04 g kg−1) throughout the study. After the loading period, subjects completed four trials in randomized order where they ingested caffeine (3 mg kg−1), sodium bicarbonate (0.3 g kg−1), placebo, or both caffeine and sodium bicarbonate before a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), 15-s sprint, and 6-min time trial. Results: Compared to placebo, mean power output during 15-s sprint was higher following loading with creatine than placebo (+34 W, 95% CI: 10 to 58, p = 0.008), but with no additional effect of caffeine (+10 W, 95% CI: −7 to 24, p = 0.156) or sodium bicarbonate (+5 W, 95% CI: −4 to 13, p = 0.397). Mean power output during 6-min time trial was higher with caffeine (+12 W, 95% CI: 5 to 18, p = 0.001) and caffeine + sodium bicarbonate (+8 W, 95% CI: 0 to 15, p = 0.038), whereas sodium bicarbonate (–1 W, 95% CI: −7 to 6, p = 0.851) and creatine (–6 W, 95% CI: −15 to 4, p = 0.250) had no effects. Conclusion: While creatine and caffeine can enhance sprint- and time trial performance, respectively, these effects do not seem additive. Therefore, supplementing with either creatine or caffeine appears sufficient to enhance sprint or short intense exercise performance.

AB - Background: Athletes commonly use creatine, caffeine, and sodium bicarbonate for performance enhancement. While their isolated effects are well-described, less is known about their potential additive effects. Methods: Following a baseline trial, we randomized 12 endurance-trained males (age: 25 ± 5 years, VO2max: 56.7 ± 4.6 mL kg−1 min−1; mean ± SD) and 11 females (age: 25 ± 3 years, VO2max: 50.2 ± 3.4 mL kg−1 min−1) to 5 days of creatine monohydrate (0.3 g kg−1 per day) or placebo loading, followed by a daily maintenance dose (0.04 g kg−1) throughout the study. After the loading period, subjects completed four trials in randomized order where they ingested caffeine (3 mg kg−1), sodium bicarbonate (0.3 g kg−1), placebo, or both caffeine and sodium bicarbonate before a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), 15-s sprint, and 6-min time trial. Results: Compared to placebo, mean power output during 15-s sprint was higher following loading with creatine than placebo (+34 W, 95% CI: 10 to 58, p = 0.008), but with no additional effect of caffeine (+10 W, 95% CI: −7 to 24, p = 0.156) or sodium bicarbonate (+5 W, 95% CI: −4 to 13, p = 0.397). Mean power output during 6-min time trial was higher with caffeine (+12 W, 95% CI: 5 to 18, p = 0.001) and caffeine + sodium bicarbonate (+8 W, 95% CI: 0 to 15, p = 0.038), whereas sodium bicarbonate (–1 W, 95% CI: −7 to 6, p = 0.851) and creatine (–6 W, 95% CI: −15 to 4, p = 0.250) had no effects. Conclusion: While creatine and caffeine can enhance sprint- and time trial performance, respectively, these effects do not seem additive. Therefore, supplementing with either creatine or caffeine appears sufficient to enhance sprint or short intense exercise performance.

KW - competition

KW - cycling

KW - ergogenic aids

KW - exercise

KW - sports

KW - supplements

U2 - 10.1111/sms.14629

DO - 10.1111/sms.14629

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38646853

AN - SCOPUS:85191073707

VL - 34

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

SN - 0905-7188

IS - 4

M1 - e14629

ER -