Effect of creatine supplementation on muscle metabolic response to a maximal treadmill exercise test in Standardbred horses.
Authors: Schuback K, Essén-Gustavsson B, Persson S G
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Creatine Supplementation in Equine Exercise Metabolism Creatine supplementation has long been explored as a performance enhancer in human athletes, yet its efficacy in horses remained unclear—particularly during high-intensity anaerobic work where creatine phosphate (CP) depletion is thought to limit performance. Schuback and colleagues investigated whether oral creatine monohydrate supplementation (50 g daily for 6.5 days) could alter muscle metabolic responses in six Standardbred trotters performing maximal incremental treadmill exercise, using a randomised crossover design with muscle biopsies and blood sampling at rest, during exercise, and recovery phases. Despite consistent dosing, the supplementation protocol failed to increase either plasma creatine or intramuscular total creatine concentration, which explains the absence of functional benefit: ATP and CP depletion, IMP accumulation, and lactate responses were indistinguishable between creatine and placebo groups, with no effect on total blood volume or exercise capacity. The lack of bioavailability—horses showed no measurable increase in muscle creatine stores—appears to be the critical limiting factor, suggesting either poor intestinal absorption of oral creatine monohydrate in equines or inadequate dosing relative to body mass. For practitioners considering creatine supplementation to enhance anaerobic performance or recovery in competition horses, these findings indicate that the oral creatine monohydrate protocol tested offers no metabolic advantage under conditions of maximal exercise; alternative delivery methods or compounds warrant investigation.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Creatine monohydrate supplementation at this dosage (25 g twice daily) does not appear to enhance performance capacity or muscle energy metabolism in exercising horses, so its use for performance improvement is not supported by this evidence.
- •The lack of increase in muscle creatine concentration suggests either poor bioavailability in equine athletes or that dosing protocols developed for humans do not translate effectively to horses.
- •Resources spent on creatine supplementation for Standardbred racehorses would be better directed toward verified training and nutrition strategies.
Key Findings
- •Creatine supplementation at 25 g twice daily for 6.5 days did not significantly increase plasma creatine or muscle total creatine concentration in Standardbred horses.
- •Maximal treadmill exercise induced expected metabolic changes (decreased ATP and CP, increased IMP and lactate) regardless of creatine or placebo supplementation.
- •Creatine supplementation had no influence on total blood volume changes during or after maximal exercise.
- •The supplementation protocol failed to produce measurable increases in muscle creatine availability despite oral dosing.