The effects of resistance training and supplementation of creatine hydrochloride on muscle strength and body composition in trained women

Creatine supplementation has been widely used among athletes. The use of resistance training along with dietary supplements are the most widely used methods that improve strength and increase muscle hypertrophy and improve performance in athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of resistance training (RT) and supplementation of creatine hydrochloride on muscle strength and body composition in trained women.

In this quasi-experimental and applied study with pretest-posttest design 24 young trained randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1: RT with CrHCL supplementation (RT + CrHCL, n=12) and Group 2: RT with placebo (RT+PL, n=12). The participants performed 8 weeks of RT (70–85% one repetition maximum (1RM). 48 hours before and after the training period, muscle strength, body composition and upper body muscle hypertrophy and lower body muscle hypertrophy were measurements. To determine the difference between research variables mixed ANOVA test was used at a significance level of 0.05. 

Significant increases were observed for body weight, fat mass, fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass, upper body muscle hypertrophy and lower body muscle hypertrophy between pre and post-test in the RT + CrHCL group (P<0.05). In addition, percentage of body fat and fat mass was significantly decreased in the post-test in the RT + CrHCL group (P<0.05). The bench press and leg press strength changes in the RT + CrHCL group were significant compared to the RT+PL group (P<0.05, P=0.001, P=0.017). In other variables, despite the significantly increase and decreased in the post-test in the RT+CrHCL group, no significant differences were observed between the two groups (P>0.05).   

It seems that 8 weeks of the CrHCL supplementation as a new type of creatine with RT can have significant effects on muscle strength in young trained women.