Effects of creatine supplementation on the energy cost of muscle contraction: a 31P-MRS study

Five women and 3 men (29.8 +/- 1.4 yr) performed dynamic knee-extension exercise inside a magnetic resonance system (means +/- SE). Two trials were performed 7-14 days apart, consisting of a 4- to 5-min exhaustive exercise bout. To determine quadriceps cost of contraction, brief static and dynamic contractions were performed pre- and postexercise. (31)P spectra were used to determine pH and relative concentrations of P(i), phosphocreatine (PCr), and betaATP. Subjects consumed 0.3 g. kg(-1). day(-1) of a placebo (trial 1) or creatine (trial 2) for 5 days before each trial. After creatine supplementation, resting DeltaPCr increased from 40.7 +/- 1.8 to 46. 6 +/- 1.1 mmol/kg (P = 0.04) and PCr during exercise declined from -29.6 +/- 2.4 to -34.1 +/- 2.8 mmol/kg (P = 0.02). Muscle static (DeltaATP/N) and dynamic (DeltaATP/J) costs of contraction were unaffected by creatine supplementation as well as were ATP, P(i), pH, PCr resynthesis rate, and muscle strength and endurance. DeltaATP/J and DeltaATP/N were greatest at the onset of the exercise protocol (P < 0.01). In summary, creatine supplementation increased muscle PCr concentration, which did not affect muscle ATP cost of contraction.