Young female wrestlers who take creatine during strength training see a noticeable improvement in their aerobic fitness, measured by how efficiently their bodies use oxygen during exercise, while those who train without creatine do not.
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Whether creatine supplementation consistently improves VO2 max in female athletes across studies, controlling for training type, duration, and baseline fitness.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs measuring VO2 max via treadmill or cycle ergometer in female athletes aged 16–25 receiving creatine (5–20 g/day) for 4–8 weeks with resistance or combined training, compared to placebo.
Whether creatine directly enhances VO2 max in female wrestlers when training volume and intensity are standardized and participants are blinded.
A double-blind RCT of 80 junior female wrestlers randomized to 10 g/day creatine or placebo, with identical 6-week, 4x/week strength training and 2x/week aerobic conditioning, measuring VO2 max via Bruce protocol pre- and post-intervention.
Whether long-term creatine use in female wrestlers is associated with sustained improvements in aerobic capacity over multiple seasons.
A prospective cohort study following 200 female wrestlers over two years, tracking creatine use, aerobic training volume, and VO2 max changes annually, adjusting for age, menstrual cycle, and diet.
Whether female wrestlers currently using creatine have higher VO2 max than non-users at a single point in time.
A cross-sectional survey of 300 female wrestlers aged 16–20 measuring current creatine use and VO2 max via submaximal treadmill test, adjusting for training experience and body mass.
Whether individual female wrestlers experience rapid VO2 max increases after starting creatine supplementation.
A case series of 10 junior female wrestlers documenting weekly VO2 max changes during the first 6 weeks of creatine supplementation (10 g/day) with standardized training.