3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item The effect of creatine on the developing rat foetus(2004) Badenhorst, Frans HendrikCreatine is one of the most frequently or generally used ergogenic substances. It is used by professional and amateur athletes and the “man on the street”. Creatine is involved in energy production and protein synthesis in muscle. Although studies have been carried out on the effect of creatine on adults, no study has yet determined whether creatine would have an influence on the developing rat foetus if taken by a female during pregnancy. The aim of this study was thus to determine whether creatine had an effect on the developing foetusItem The effect of creatine on the developing rat foetus(2006-11-20T09:50:09Z) Badenhorst, Frans HendrikCreatine is one of the most frequently or generally used ergogenic substances. It is used by professional and amateur athletes and the “man on the street”. Creatine is involved in energy production and protein synthesis in muscle. Although studies have been carried out on the effect of creatine on adults, no study has yet determined whether creatine would have an influence on the developing rat foetus if taken by a female during pregnancy. The aim of this study was thus to determine whether creatine had an effect on the developing foetus. Dams were divided into two groups, which we re injected between days 7-13 and on days 9 and 11 only of intra-uterine development respectively. Each group was subdivided into a control and two experimental groups. Experimental group one received a low dose of creatine (53.5mg/250g body weight); the other experimental group received a high dose of creatine (107mg/250g body weight). The control group received an equal volume (1ml) of the vehicle (saline) in which the creatine was constituted. Dams were sacrificed on day 20 of development. The foetuses were removed and their weight and length taken. Foetuses were examined for abnormalities. Two foetuses from each litter underwent skeletal staining. Tissue was excised from the remaining foetuses and processed for histology for histological investigation. Creatine positively affected the growth of the foetuses of dams injected between days 7-13, while foetuses of dams injected only on days 9 and 11 in the B-group showed reduced growth. Creatine also had a slightly negative effect on the histological structure of the liver, but enhanced skeletal muscle growth, endocrine cell formation (pancreas) and skeletal formation. From the results obtained it is hypothesized that creatine and insulin together may play a positive role from implantation to birth, while creatine given at certain stages of organogenesis delayed development of the foetus.Item Creatine Supplementation: It’s Association with Muscle Injury in Young Rugby Players.(2006-11-10T12:03:36Z) Harris, LindsayCoaches and athletes are continually searching for ways to gain the "competitive edge" and improve athletic performance. Ergogenic substances and procedures are used routinely at almost all competitive levels. Creatine has become one of the most popular nutritional supplements among athletes in recent times. There is evidence suggesting that there are side effects of creatine supplementation. These include renal stress/failure, muscle injury and cramping. While creatine supplementation has the potential to be a safe and effective nutritional aid, these potential side effects may lead to long term problems in athletes. The aim of the study was to determine whether creatine supplementation is associated with injury defined as cramping and muscle strains. This was done using a questionnaire. A questionnaire was developed to consist of three sections determining the player’s training program, incidence of injury and use of creatine supplementation, if any. A pilot study was conducted to establish the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, estimate the time for data collection and identify any unanticipated problems. First team rugby players between the ages of 16 and 19 selected from six competitively recognized rugby schools within the Gauteng Province were included in the study. Consent was obtained from the headmasters of the relevant schools, coaches, and parents/guardians. Questionnaires were completed with the researcher present to explain any part of the questionnaire, which the players did not understand. Data were analyzed using the odds ratio from a logistic regression. The results reveal that no association exists between creatine supplementation and muscle injury in the form of cramping and muscle strains. The subjects were not aware of creatine supplementation recommendations and as a result it was being taken inconsistently and haphazardly.