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IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON MUSCULAR PERFORMANCE AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

Abstract

Emily Parsowith1, Alex Brooks1, Alec Schumpp1, Matt Stock2, Kylah Jackson1, Emily Andriello1, Alena Larson1, Madison Dixon1, Ciaran Fairman1. 1University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. 2University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) has a high prevalence in the United States, with over 280,000 estimated cases diagnosed in 2021. Advances in the detection and treatment of BC have resulted in an increased survival rate. Unfortunately, this means that there is also an ever-increasing population experiencing declines in physiological and psychological wellbeing that accompany cancer treatments. BC treatment is commonly associated with decreases in muscle mass, strength, and cognitive function. Consequently, there is a critical need for the investigation of strategies to mitigate treatment related impairments in BC. Prior research suggests that creatine supplementation and resistance training have a beneficial effect on muscular performance and cognitive function in healthy, older adults. However, the effects of creatine supplementation have not yet been examined in BC survivors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of short-term creatine supplementation on muscular performance and cognitive function in BC survivors. METHODS: Using a double-blind placebo controlled randomized design, 20 BC survivors will be assigned to a creatine (CRE) or dextrose placebo (PLA) group. Prior to supplementation, participants will undergo two familiarization sessions to minimize practice effects. After the first testing session, participants will supplement their regular diet 4 times/day for 7-days with 5g of CRE or PLA. Muscular performance will be assessed using timed up-and-go, short Physical Performance Battery, 10 repetition maximum chest press and leg extension, and sit-to-stand power tests. Cognitive function will be evaluated using visual and auditory reaction time, Erik Flanker, and Corsi block tests. Muscular performance and cognitive function tests will be done pre- and post-supplementation. Data will be evaluated for normality using the Shapiro Wilk test. Descriptive statistics will be expressed as means ± standard deviation. The interaction between supplement (CRE vs PLA) and time (Pre vs Post), will be examined using a group x time analysis of variance (ANOVA). Statistical significance will be considered at p<0.05. Effect sizes for analyses will also be reported. All data will be analyzed using R. ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We hypothesize that short-term creatine supplementation will result in significant improvements for both muscular performance and cognitive function relative to the placebo group.

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