The Claim

A 28-day creatine monohydrate supplementation protocol (20 g/day for 7 days followed by 5 g/day for 21 days) causes significant improvements in peak anaerobic power (+142 W), mean anaerobic power (+98 W), repeated-sprint performance (mean time reduction of 0.14 s), sprint decrement reduction (2.4%), countermovement jump height (+3.8 cm), and maximal leg press strength (+18.6 kg) in elite male basketball players aged 18–30, indicating enhanced phosphagen system capacity and explosive performance capacity during high-intensity intermittent activity.

Source: Effects of Short-Term Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Anaerobic Power, Repeated-Sprint Capacity, and Maximal Strength in Elite Iraqi Basketball Players: A Randomised Double-Blind Parallel-Group Trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
69score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In elite male basketball players aged 18–30, a 28-day creatine monohydrate supplementation protocol increases peak anaerobic power, mean anaerobic power, repeated-sprint speed, jump height, and leg press strength, while reducing sprint performance decline.

See the scientific wording

A 28-day creatine monohydrate supplementation protocol (20 g/day for 7 days followed by 5 g/day for 21 days) causes significant improvements in peak anaerobic power (+142 W), mean anaerobic power (+98 W), repeated-sprint performance (mean time reduction of 0.14 s), sprint decrement reduction (2.4%), countermovement jump height (+3.8 cm), and maximal leg press strength (+18.6 kg) in elite male basketball players aged 18–30, indicating enhanced phosphagen system capacity and explosive performance capacity during high-intensity intermittent activity.

Why this might work

Creatine builds up in muscle cells and gets converted into phosphocreatine, which donates a phosphate to quickly remake ATP when muscles are working hard. This keeps energy levels high during short bursts of activity, allowing muscles to keep producing force without slowing down, even after repeated efforts.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Effects of Short-Term Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Anaerobic Power, Repeated-Sprint Capacity, and Maximal Strength in Elite Iraqi Basketball Players: A Randomised Double-Blind Parallel-Group Trial

    Taking creatine for 28 days helped these elite basketball players jump higher, sprint faster, and lift more weight, without making them heavier from muscle growth—just from better energy use during short, intense bursts.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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