Creatine is an amino compound essential in the production of chemicals that generate energy at the cellular level. A body's supply of creatine is partially assembled by the kidneys, liver and pancreas. The rest is absorbed from the diet. Creatine supplementation is popular among fitness enthusiasts who aim to make use of the increased energy provided to skeletal muscle. However, recent evidence suggests that creatine may benefit the body in more ways than previously believed.
Performance
Creatine has been found to amplify one's ability to perform during activities that require tremendous exertion over brief periods of time. Creatine also accelerates the repair of muscle tissue, shortening rest periods between workouts while reducing soreness and fatigue. J. David Branch, in a 2003 study, found that "Creatine supplementation has improved repetitions accomplished, mass lifted, force and power generated, and work accomplished during high-intensity, short-duration isotonic, isometric, isokinetic, and leg ergometer exercise."
Aging
Recent research has revealed that creatine supplementation may significantly slow the degeneration of cognitive faculties, sometimes associated with aging. An examination of the effects of creatine on cognitive performance was performed at the School of Sport, University of Chichester. The resultant report, published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, concludes that "creatine supplementation aids cognition in the elderly." These findings may hold important implications for the future of treating conditions that impair neurological performance with age.
Heart Failure
Loss of skeletal muscle is a symptom of chronic heart failure that, in turn, tends to worsen other manifestations of the condition. Dr. R. Andrews, lead researcher in a study examining the effects of dietary creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle metabolism, reports that "dietary creatine supplementation in patients with chronic heart failure produces an improvement in skeletal muscle endurance and an attenuation of the derangement of the metabolic response to exercise observed in chronic heart failure." He goes on to state that "Abnormalities of skeletal muscle in chronic heart failure are well described and there is increasing evidence that these may be an important determinant of symptoms in chronic heart failure."
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