Effect of Creatine and Caffeine on Muscle Performance

February 26, 2020 updated by: University of Regina

Effects of Creatine and Caffeine Co-Supplementation on Muscle Mass and Muscle Performance in Trained Young Adults

To determine if creatine and caffeine can be co-supplemented without inhibiting the effects of creatine.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Creatine and caffeine are among the most popular ergogenic aids used by exercising individuals. Creatine supplementation during resistance training has been shown to increase muscle mass and muscle performance (i.e. strength, endurance), possibly by influencing high-energy phosphate metabolism, muscle protein kinetics, and inflammation. Caffeine ingestion has been shown to increase muscle performance, primarily by influencing adenosine receptor activity, muscle protein kinetics, phosphodiesterase, and excitation-coupling. Previous research investigating the combined effects of creatine and caffeine has produced mixed results, with some showing a beneficial effect on short-term anaerobic type activities, while other report no effect. Despite the potential beneficial effects of creatine and caffeine separately, no study has compared the combined effects of creatine and caffeine during resistance training. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to determine the effects of creatine and caffeine co-supplementation during resistance training on muscle mass and muscle performance in trained young adults.

The study will be a double-blind, repeated measures design. In order to minimize group differences, participants will be matched according to age and weight and be randomized on a 1:1:1:1 basis to one of four groups: Creatine + Caffeine (CR-CAF; 0.1 g/kg of creatine monohydrate powder + 3 mg/kg of caffeine [micronized powder]); Creatine (CR; 0.1 g/kg of creatine monohydrate powder + 3 mg/kg of caffeine placebo [micronized cellulose powder]), Caffeine (CAF; 3 mg/kg of caffeine + 0.1 g/kg of creatine monohydrate placebo [maltodextrin]) or placebo (PLA; 0.1g/kg creatine monohydrate placebo + 3 mg/kg of caffeine placebo). An individual, blinded to supplement and group allocation, will be responsible for the preparation of study kits. Each study kit will contain the participants supplement for the duration of the study, detailed supplementation instructions, measuring spoons, supplementation compliance log, daily caffeine consumption log and a resistance training log. Supplement powders will be similar in energy content, color, taste, texture, and appearance. The creatine dosage of 0.1 g/kg has previously been shown to be effective for increasing muscle mass and muscle performance. The caffeine dosage of 3 mg/kg has been shown to increase muscle performance. Participants will be instructed to refrain from additional caffeine sources ≥ 3 hour prior to consuming their supplement so that a valid estimate regarding the effects of caffeine supplementation on muscle can be made. On training days, participants will mix their supplement powder in water and consume the solution 60 minutes prior to exercise. Sixty minutes was chosen because this is the approximate time it takes for peak plasma caffeine concentrations to occur after caffeine ingestion and pre-exercise creatine supplementation has a beneficial effect on muscle performance.

Participants will follow the same periodized, resistance training program for 6 weeks. The program will consist of three sets of 6, 8, 10 repetitions to muscle fatigue in order. Resistance training will start on the first day of supplementation and will consist of a split routine involving whole body musculature. Day 1 will involve chest and biceps musculature and include the following exercises in order: machine-based chest press, free weight incline bench press or dumbbell press, free-weight flat dumbbell press, machine-based pec-dec, free-weight standing barbell curl, free-weight alternate arm dumbbell curl and machine-based preacher curl. Day 2 will involve leg and core musculature and include the following exercises in order: free-weight squat, machine-based leg press, machine-based leg extension, machine-based leg curl, machine-based calf raise, and machine-based weighted abdominal crunches. Day 3 will serve as a rest day from training. Day 4 will involve back and triceps musculature and include the following exercises in order: body weight or weight-assisted chin-ups, machine-based seated row, machine-based lat pull-down, free-weight alternate dumb-bell row, free-weight close-grip bench press, machine-based cable triceps bar extension, and machine-based cable triceps rope extension. Day 5 will involve shoulder and core musculature and include the following exercises in order: free-weight dumbbell press, free-weight upright row, free-weight shrugs, free-weight or machine based lateral deltoid flys, free weight or machine-based rear deltoid flys and machine-based weighted abdominal crunches. Day 6 will serve as a rest day from training. This cycle will be repeated for 6 weeks. Participants will maintain training logs to ensure adherence and compliance to the study and to determine total training volume (load x repetitions x sets).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

36

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Saskatchewan
      • Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S4H4
        • Recruiting
        • University of Regina
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Darren G Candow, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years to 37 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or Female ages 18-39
  • Resistance training for minimum of 6 months 3/week.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Creatine supplementation within last 3 months
  • Taking medications that affect muscle biology
  • Have a disease that affects muscle biology
  • Pre existing liver or kidney abnormalities
  • Plan to travel for greater then 1 week during the study where you have NO access to fitness facility.
  • Fail Par-Q and are unable to receive doctors clearance

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Resistance Training with Creatine Monohydrate
Participants will go through a 6 week resistance training program (unsupervised), at the facility of their choice. They will be given a program to follow with a 2 day on one day rest split routine as follows: Chest and biceps, legs and core, rest, back and triceps, shoulders and core, rest. This cycle will repeat for the 6 week program.
Dietary supplement: Creatine Monohydrate
0.1g/kg of body weight (pre measured creatine) and 3mg/kg of body weight (pre measured micronized cellulose powder-caffeine placebo) self administered 1 hr prior to working out mixed in water.
Experimental: Resistance Training with Caffeine
Participants will go through a 6 week resistance training program (unsupervised), at the facility of their choice. They will be given a program to follow with a 2 day on one day rest split routine as follows: Chest and biceps, legs and core, rest, back and triceps, shoulders and core, rest. This cycle will repeat for the 6 week program.
Dietary supplement: Caffeine
3mg/kg of body weight (pre measured caffeine) and 0.1g/kg of bodyweight (pre measured maltodextrin- creatine placebo) self administered 1 hr prior to working out mixed in water.
Experimental: Resistance Training with Caffeine and Creatine Monohydrate
Participants will go through a 6 week resistance training program (unsupervised), at the facility of their choice. They will be given a program to follow with a 2 day on one day rest split routine as follows: Chest and biceps, legs and core, rest, back and triceps, shoulders and core, rest. This cycle will repeat for the 6 week program.
Dietary supplement: Creatine Monohydrate and Caffeine
0.1g/kg body weight (pre measured creatine) and 3mg/kg body weight (pre measured caffeine) self administered 1hr prior to working out mixed in water.
Placebo Comparator: Resistance Training with Placebo
Participants will go through a 6 week resistance training program (unsupervised), at the facility of their choice. They will be given a program to follow with a 2 day on one day rest split routine as follows: Chest and biceps, legs and core, rest, back and triceps, shoulders and core, rest. This cycle will repeat for the 6 week program.
Dietary supplement: Placebo
0.1g/kg of body weight (pre measured maltodextrin) and 3mg/kg of body weight (pre measured micronized cellulose powder) self administered 1 hr prior to working out mixed in water.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscle strength using a standard plate loaded leg press and chest press machine
Time Frame: 6 weeks
1-Rep max for leg press and chest press.
6 weeks
Hypertrophy
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Ultrasound of biceps, triceps, quads and hamstrings. Size in cm of each muscle site.
6 weeks
Muscle endurance using a standard plate loaded leg press and chest press machine
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Reps to fatigue at 50% 1-Rep Max.
6 weeks
Body Composition using a Bod Pod
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Test used to determine fat mass and lean tissue within a subject. Gives the fat % and the remainder is considered everything else. Since bone and organ wont really change over 6 weeks, all changes are considered to be lean tissue changes.
6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fatigue Scale (Generic)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Assessed using fatigue scale (1-10) after each workout. The higher the number, the more the participant is fatigued
6 weeks
Rating of perceived exertion (Generic)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Modified to encompass entire training day. 1-10 scale as to how hard that particular workout was. The higher the number, the harder the workout felt to the participant.
6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Regina

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Darren G Candow, PhD, Assoicate Dean of Kinesiology

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 15, 2019

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

May 31, 2020

Study Completion (Anticipated)

September 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 8, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 26, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

March 2, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 2, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 26, 2020

Last Verified

February 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2018-251

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

IPD Plan Description

As of now there is no plan to share data of individual participants.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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