The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether creatine supplementation changes how the body adapts to repeated exercise in the heat in healthy recreationally active adults and varsity athletes. The study will also examine whether creatine affects fluid balance, blood volume changes and exercise performance.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does creatine supplementation increase plasma volume and total body water during repeated heat exposure more than placebo? Does creatine supplementation improve exercise performance after heat acclimation more than placebo? Does creatine supplementation influence cardiovascular responses to heat stress?
Researchers will compare a creatine supplementation group to a placebo group to determine whether creatine changes the magnitude of heat acclimation adaptations.
Participants will:
Complete baseline measurements of body composition, hydration, blood markers, and exercise performance.
Consume either creatine monohydrate or a placebo supplement daily Complete repeated supervised exercise sessions in a controlled heated environment Undergo repeated assessments of body water, temperature, heart rate, and exercise performance throughout the study
Healthy biological males between 18 and 27 years of age
Recreationally active males and varsity athletes
Able to safely participate in moderate-intensity exercise and heat exposure
Willing to maintain habitual diet and physical activity throughout the study
History of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, renal, neurological, or heat-related illness
Contraindications to exercise testing or heat exposure identified during health screening
Current musculoskeletal injury limiting exercise participation
Current use of creatine supplementation or inability to complete the required washout period