Creatine, with cycle?

Creatine is a very good supplement while on cycle, and if you are taking oxandrolone, then it is almost a requirement.
 
Repost-Creatine/androgen synergy by Huck Finn
Hey fellas.Just dug up an interesting read out of one of my old Ironman mags.The following excerpts are providided by the notorious Michael Gundill(a.k.a. Dharkam)....Although creatine does have testosterone-like effects,it doesn't act as a steroid hormone.Instead,it's a mediator of some of the androgens' anabolic effects.In fact,steroid users get far more out of their cycles if they take in massive amounts of creatine along with the drugs.Androgens are among the hormones that can force the entry of creatine into muscle cells.While there's a clear relationship between muscle strength gains and increases in muscle creatine stores,unfortunately,the relationship is not as obvious when it comes to increases in muscle mass.Animal-based studies have shown that the muscles of untrained rats take up as much creatine as the muscles of trained rats,but the ANABOLIC effects of creatine are only obvious in trained rats.Therefore,training increases the muscles sensitivity to the anabolic actions of creatine.(Although it's not related to this article,the study also demonstrated that the anabolic effects of creatine are DIRECT,and not mediated by waterretention.In fact,in the 1970s American and Russian studies pointed out a DIRECT anabolic effect of creatine on muscle cells.)Testosterone increases the muscles'sensitivity to the anabolic properties of creatine in addition to enhancing the creatine buildup in muscle fibers.It's also obvious that part of the strength gains people experience while on steroids are mediated by an increase in muscle creatine stores.An interesting discovery A/S users have made is that they should dramatically increase their creatine intake during a cycle to boost the potency of the steroids.Thanks to creatine,people can build more muscle mass with fewer drugs.Anecdotal evidence from A/S users points out that it takes at least 10-15 grams(maintenance)of creatine a day to visibly enhance the the anabolic potency of a steroid stack.There are probably good reasons for the increased creatine requirement when androgen levels are high.As mentioned above,steroids increase the muscle uptake of creatine,and if the muscles are ready to accept more creatine,why not give it to them?I also think that even though steroids enhance creatine synthesis,they may increase creatine degradation as well-so more creatine is used up every day.That could be due to an increase in muscle creatine turnover and also the fact that an elevated muscle protein synthesis rate will likely consume creatine at a faster rate.Other reasons for a higher creatine requirement may be indirect.Because the muscles of drug users are stronger and receive more training,they may waste greater amounts of creatine during training.Once inside the muscle,creatine provides not only an anabolic effect,but also a rapidly mobilized source of fuel.Muscle protein synthesis is a process that wastes great amounts of energy.Anabolism is an ATP-dependent process,which means that it's essential for protein synthesis.If the cellular level of ATP is reduced even a little,IT STOPS ANABOLISM.So even if you can increase the testosterone content of your muscles,nothing will happen if your ATP level is low.Creatine supports anabolism by providing energy to the muscle...Well fellas,it looks like it might be a good idea to stock up on creatine when you're grabbing your protein powder for those bulking cycles,hehheh....Huck
 
I use creatine when off my cycle. When on I just get a little bit of it from food..lol
 
AM i the only one who doesnt see jack shit for results on creatine, on or off cycle? Ive tried them all. NO2, Cell-Tech, V12, prolab creatine, the list goes on and on. No results to speak of.
 
RoadHouse said:
AM i the only one who doesnt see jack shit for results on creatine, on or off cycle? Ive tried them all. NO2, Cell-Tech, V12, prolab creatine, the list goes on and on. No results to speak of.


You're not the only one.
It didn't do much for me either...




Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002 Jul;34(7):1176-83 Related Articles, Links


Effects of creatine on isometric bench-press performance in resistance-trained humans.

Kilduff LP, Vidakovic P, Cooney G, Twycross-Lewis R, Amuna P, Parker M, Paul L, Pitsiladis YP.

Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on force generation during an isometric bench-press in resistance-trained men. METHODS: 32 resistance-trained men were matched for peak isometric force and assigned in double-blind fashion to either a Cr or placebo group. Subjects performed an isometric bench-press test involving five maximal isometric contractions before and after 5 d of Cr (20 g.d-1 Cr + 180 g.d-1 dextrose) or placebo (200 g.d-1 dextrose). Body composition was measured before and after supplementation. Subjects completed 24-h urine collections throughout the study period; these were subsequently analyzed to provide total Cr and creatinine excretion. RESULTS: The amount of Cr retained over the supplementation period was 45 +/- 18 g (mean +/- SD), with an estimated intramuscular Cr storage of 43 (13-61) mmol x kg(-1) x dry weight muscle (median [range]). Four subjects in the Cr group were classified as "nonresponders" (< or =21 mmol x kg(-1) x dry weight muscle increase following Cr supplementation) and the remaining 17 subjects were classed as "responders" (> or =32 mmol x kg(-1) x dry weight muscle). For the Cr group, peak force and total force pre- or post-supplementation were not different from placebo. However, when the analysis was confined to the responders, both the change in peak force [Repetition 2: 59(81) N vs -26(85) N; Repetition 3: 45(59) N vs -26(64) N) and the change in total force (Repetition 1: 1471(1274) N vs 209(1517) N; Repetition 2: 1575(1254) N vs 196(1413) N; Repetition 3: 1278(1245) N vs -3(1118) N; Repetition 4: 918(935) N vs -83(1095) N] post-supplementation were significantly greater compared with the placebo group (P < 0.01). For the Cr group, estimated Cr uptake was inversely correlated with training status (r = -0.68, N = 21, P = 0.001). Cr significantly increased body weight (84.1 +/- 8.6 kg pre- vs 85.3 +/- 8.3 kg post-supplementation) and fat-free mass (71.8 +/- 6.0 kg pre- vs 72.6 +/- 6.0 kg post-supplementation), with the magnitude of increase being significantly greater in the responder group than in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Five days of Cr supplementation increased body weight and fat-free body mass in resistance-trained men who were classified as responders. Peak force and total force during a repeated maximal isometric bench-press test were also significantly greater in the responders compared to the placebo group.
 
I am more of a post cycle creatine user myself, but to each is thier own. Stay away from Nitro-Tech, check the sugar content on that shit...76g, that's a lot. Iuse MHP brand called TRAC, I guess it works ok.
 
Edhead said:
I am more of a post cycle creatine user myself, but to each is thier own. Stay away from Nitro-Tech, check the sugar content on that shit...76g, that's a lot. Iuse MHP brand called TRAC, I guess it works ok.

Youre referring to Cell-Tech.

Trac is good and so is Vitagrow from Nutrex, V12 is good stuff, as well as Plasma Expander from VPX
 
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