The Effect of Short Term Creatine Supplementation of Percent Body Fat

Creatine is a dietary supplement that has been rigorously studied in exercise performance. Recently, creatine monohydrate supplementation has become popular as a general health supplement for conditions such as aging, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease, however, very little is known about how creatine monohydrate may change body composition. Because creatine monohydrate causes fluid retention in skeletal muscle, logic follows that measured body composition may be altered after consumption. To observe the potential change in body composition, skinfold measurements will be used to measure body fat percentage. Participants will be separated into a creatine-consuming group and a placebo group. After ten days of consumption, the participants will have skinfold measurements taken again. If short term creatine monohydrate supplementation causes fluid retention, skinfold measurements for body composition may be significantly altered from previous measurements.