Myoprotective Potential of Creatine Is Greater than Whey Protein after Chemically-Induced Damage in Rat Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

The myoprotective effects of creatine monohydrate (CR) and whey protein (WP) are equivocal, with the use of proxy measures of muscle damage making interpretation of their effectiveness limited. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of CR and WP supplementation on muscle damage and recovery following controlled, chemically-induced muscle damage. Degeneration of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle was induced by bupivacaine in rats supplemented with either CR, WP, or standard rat chow (CON). At day 7 and 14 post-myotoxic injury, injured EDL muscles were surgically removed and tested for isometric contractile properties, followed by the contralateral, non-injured EDL muscle. At the completion of testing, muscles were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored for later analysis. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Creatine-supplemented muscles displayed a greater proportion of non-damaged (intact) fibers (p = 0.002) and larger cross-sectional areas of regenerating and non-damaged fibers (p = 0.024) compared to CON muscles at day 7 post-injury. At day 14 post-injury, CR-supplemented muscles generated higher absolute forces concomitant with greater contractile protein levels compared to CON (p = 0.001, p = 0.008) and WP-supplemented muscles (p = 0.003, p = 0.006). Creatine supplementation appears to offer an element of myoprotection which was not observed following whey protein supplementation.

Effects of dietary creatine supplementation on kidney and striated skeletal muscles of rats submitted to ischemia and reperfusion of hind limbs

“…There were no significant differences between groups in muscle variables (interstitial edema, inflammatory infiltrate and necrosis), perhaps because these changes are more closely related to the time of ischemia and reperfusion 14 . The reduction in muscle damage after creatine supplementation highlighted in the present study agree with the results of the experiment carried out by Cooke et al, which also aimed to evaluate its myoprotective effect, after chemically induced damage, concluding that the muscles supplemented with creatine had a higher proportion of undamaged fibers, as well as larger areas of regenerating fibers 13 .…”

“…The reduction in muscle damage after creatine supplementation highlighted in the present study agree with the results of the experiment carried out by Cooke et al, which also aimed to evaluate its myoprotective effect, after chemically induced damage, concluding that the muscles supplemented with creatine had a higher proportion of undamaged fibers, as well as larger areas of regenerating fibers 13 .…”

“…Twenty-nine animals aging 10 months were randomly divided by batch into three groups: experiment group (group 1), nine animals, which received creatine monohydrate supplementation (Creatine Monohydrate Micronized – Atlhetica Nutrition, Matão/SP) in the dose 2 g diluted in 500 mL of water 5 days before being subjected to a period of 4 h of ischemia and 4 h of reperfusion; control group (group 2), 10 animals that did not receive creatine supplementation with the same period of ischemia–reperfusion; and sham group (group 3), 10 animals that received supplementation but were not subjected to ischemia–reperfusion in order to verify if creatine supplementation could cause changes in the studied variables 12 , 13 .…”

Creatine for Exercise and Sports Performance, with Recovery Considerations for Healthy Populations

“…Additionally, the volume and nature of endurance training can invoke noticeable muscle damage. Cooke and colleagues [100] have reported that creatine supplementation may reduce circulating levels of muscle damage markers and help to more quickly restore the ability of the damaged muscle to produce force, whereas other studies have also highlighted a distinct myoprotective role for creatine [101]. Beyond these findings, Santos et al [102] previously reported that creatine supplementation (5 g/dose four times per day for 5 days) in a group of runners who were monitored for 24 h after completing a 30-km running race experienced reduced levels of soreness, muscle damage, and inflammation.…”

Creatine and l-carnitine attenuate muscular laminopathy in the LMNA mutation transgenic zebrafish

“…When muscle damage occurs or there is a high-energy demand, creatine kinase breaks down phosphocreatine to produce ATP as a supplemental energy source 50 . Studies have shown that supplementing the diet with creatine in rats with muscle injuries leads to a higher proportion of undamaged muscle fibers compared to those on a normal diet 51 . Treating LMNA (R453W) fish with creatine may help reduce muscle damage caused by laminopathy and provide additional energy for skeletal muscle.…”