Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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03.12.2008 |
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Creatine makes kidneys healthier
The Brazilians gave nine male test subjects ten grams of creatine every day for three months. To be more precise: the subjects got 0.3 g of creatine per kilo bodyweight daily. Nine other male subjects were given a placebo. Before the test started the subjects took no physical exercise, but during the period of the experiment the researchers got the subjects to do an hour of exercise three times a week.
The chart below shows what happened to the creatinine levels of the test subjects. They rose in the group that took creatine, which is exactly what you'd expect.
The other method the Brazilians used was to measure the amount of the protein Cystatin C in the test subjects' blood. Cystatin C is a marker of kidney function: the lower the concentration, the better the kidneys are functioning.
As you can see, in the last week of the experiment, the concentration of Cystatin C is significantly lower than in the placebo group.
The test subjects were aged between 18 and 35, so the research doesn't tell us anything about how the elderly react to creatine.
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