Creatine Supplementation for Female Football

kidney function

Creatine is an effective, inexpensive, and safe dietary supplement, which has been largely
 used in sports and clinical populations. However, creatine is much less studied in female
 athletes, with long-term data being particularly scant. This study aims to expand our
 knowledge on the effects of creatine supplementation in young (Under-20) and elite female
 football players. This study will comprise two experiments. The first one will be a
 randomized, controlled trial in which young athletes will be assigned into either creatine or
 placebo (n = 20). Before and 7 days after supplementation or placebo (4 x 5 g/d of Creapure
 or dextrose at same dose), athletes will perform a battery of performance tests. Blood and
 urinary biochemical parameters for assessing the safety of supplementation will be analyzed
 (creatinine, albuminuria, urea, sodium, potassium, liver enzymes, creatine kinase,
 hematology). Food intake will be assessed by means of 3-d 24-h dietary recalls. The second
 experiment will have a quasi-experimental design (i.e., pre-to-post), in which both young and
 elite football players (n = 70) will be supplemented with creatine (4 x 5 g/d for 7 days and
 then 5 days during the follow-up) and will be assessed for safety using the above-mentioned
 markers during the regular football season (~12 months). Assessments will be carried out at
 baseline, in the mid-season and after the season.