So I have not done any lit search on this and searching slowtwitch came up short and I realized I may get thrown to the wolves on this one. But here goes…
If creatine promotes water retention has anyone ever taken it in low dosage (1-3 grams) to promote hydration at the muscular/cellar lever? I have been experiencing severe cramping and I am just trying to think outside the box a little.
So I have not done any lit search on this and searching slowtwitch came up short and I realized I may get thrown to the wolves on this one. But here goes…
If creatine promotes water retention has anyone ever taken it in low dosage (1-3 grams) to promote hydration at the muscular/cellar lever? I have been experiencing severe cramping and I am just trying to think outside the box a little.
Find a different box.
John
Long read, but I feel compelled to share everytime I read about creatine supplements.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=3145585;search_string=;#3145585
Long read, but I feel compelled to share everytime I read about creatine supplements.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...rch_string=;#3145585
Creatine by itself is not bad. It’s about the only legal supplement that’s been proven to work. It’s not much good for endurance athletes, however, as it’s mainly effective in short burst type activities such as sprinting, powerlifting, things like that.
You do have to drink a lot of extra water, especially when loading, but that water gets stored in the cells combined with the creatine. It’s not in a form that is readily available to the system for hydration. Add to that the weight gain from the water retention, and it really is counterintuitive for an endurance athlete.
If you are having constant, severe cramping then there is some other reason for it. Trying wild ideas to try and fix it is only putting a bandage on it. You need to figure out the root cause and fix that.
John
^This…the water you retain isn’t vascular and therefore doesn help the cramping issue.
Using Creatine as a supplement in this article:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cyclingnews-fitness-q-and-a-june-8-2011
.
back in the 90’s, people (myself included) used to use glycerol for this.
but i’d guess your cramping isn’t about dehydration per se - maybe time to start eating more bananas.
-mike
Yes, that is what the Urologist told me. The massive amounts I was taking during the load phase combined with not drinking enough water apparently led to my issues, in his professional opinion.
Gotta be careful with that stuff, apparently.
I have been experiencing severe cramping and I am just trying to think outside the box a little.
During hard workouts and racing or all the time?
Shane
first of all loading isnt even necessary. I would guess you only need 3 grams a day of monohydrate to reach and maintain sat. additionally there are new forms of creatine that utilize different pathways so the bloating isnt even a concern with say mcc.
the hydration isnt vascular, but it is muscular. I would think it could be positive. I take creatine as it is to aid with my shorter intervals and lifts anyways. I havnt had any negatives and it is cheap.
" that water gets stored in the cells combined with the creatine. It’s not in a form that is readily available to the system for hydration. Add to that the weight gain from the water retention, and it really is counterintuitive for an endurance athlete. "
This information probably best answers my question… So water retained by creatine is stored as a hydrate and is effectively unavailable to you.
back in the 90’s, people (myself included) used to use glycerol for this.
but i’d guess your cramping isn’t about dehydration per se - maybe time to start eating more bananas.
-mike
AFAIK Glycerol has been banned. I believe they categorized it as a “plasma expander” . It was actually an ingredient in Hammer’s “Liquid Endurance”.
back in the 90’s, people (myself included) used to use glycerol for this.
but i’d guess your cramping isn’t about dehydration per se - maybe time to start eating more bananas.
-mike
AFAIK Glycerol has been banned. I believe they categorized it as a “plasma expander” . It was actually an ingredient in Hammer’s “Liquid Endurance”.
globaldro doesn’t list it.
John
back in the 90’s, people (myself included) used to use glycerol for this.
but i’d guess your cramping isn’t about dehydration per se - maybe time to start eating more bananas.
-mike
AFAIK Glycerol has been banned. I believe they categorized it as a “plasma expander” . It was actually an ingredient in Hammer’s “Liquid Endurance”.
Banned by WADA/USADA/etc as a masking agent:
S5. DIURETICS AND OTHER MASKING AGENTS
Masking agents are prohibited. They include:
Diuretics, probenecid, plasma expanders (e.g. glycerol; intravenous
administration of **albumin, dextran, hydroxyethyl starch **and **mannitol) **and
other substances with similar biological effect(s).
NCAA is funny about it. It used to be classified as a permitted nutritional supplement that the University is not allowed to provide (high protein drinks, amino acid supplements, melatonin and a few other things also fall into this category). Now the NCAA sports medicine handbook and the banned substance list doesn’t even mention it. Could still be classified as an “other” masking agent. I can’t say that I am aware of this issue coming up since I have been involved.
Andy
Creatine can actually make your renal function look worse. I’ve heard several nephrologists say to avoid it. I would certainly avoid taking it if you anticipate a further shock to your renal system, ie pre-renal failure from dehydration.
Firstly, I’m certainly no supplement/medical expert, but did read about the benefits of creatine and as said it is widely acknowledged for long term use it may be of little use to endurance athletes.
However, I like to do periodization training for my weights, to build up some extra leg mass. And I certainly found the use of creatine in that period absolutely made a difference. You can lift heavier and more reps before fatiguing. And that extra muscle mass made a difference when cycling. Once I cut back on the weights I stop taking it.
But I wouldn’t take it as a daily solution for hydration though.