CREATINE INCREASES GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE!
Every strength athlete knows CREATINE AS AN EFFECTIVE FOOD SUPPLEMENT . However, the puzzle of why this substance has a performance-enhancing effect has not yet been completely solved. Now another aspect has been added that could be responsible for the ergogenic effects: an increase in the body's own growth hormone secretion.
This allowed Schedel et al. in six healthy male subjects after administration of 20 g creatine monohydrate a SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER GROWTH HORMONE LEVELS in the blood than in the subjects after administration of a placebo. The blood concentration was on average 83% higher after creatine intake. The peak values of the hormone were measured between 2 and 6 hours after creatine administration.
These data provide further evidence as to why creatine as a nutritional supplement has a performance-enhancing effect. However, it must be taken into account that 20 g of creatine as a single dose is a very high dosage, which causes diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems in many people. Such amounts are usually taken in 4 individual doses of 5 g each throughout the day. Further studies must therefore investigate whether such increases in growth hormone also occur with lower doses.