Anaerobic PerformanceNCT07548541
Acute Effects of Creatine and L-Arginine Co-Supplementation on Anaerobic and Cognitive Performance in Recreationally Active Males
A study testing Creatine Monohydrate and L-Arginine in people with Anaerobic Performance and Cognitive Performance, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized, double-blind, four-period crossover trial investigates the acute effects of creatine monohydrate, L-arginine, and their combined administration on anaerobic performance, jump performance, and cognitive reaction time in recreationally active adult males. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anaerobic Performance, Cognitive Performance, Healthy Volunteers
- What is being tested?
- Creatine Monohydrate and L-Arginine
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 18 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2025to 16 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male recreational athletes aged 18 years or older
- At least 2 years of regular participation in organized sport
- Apparently healthy and able to complete high-intensity exercise testing
Who cannot join
- Known orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disorders
- Use of anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing drugs within the previous 3 months
- Use of psychoactive or stimulant substances during the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Inonu University, Faculty of Sport Sciences
Malatya, Malatya, 44280
About this study
Official title: Acute Effects of Creatine and L-Arginine Co-Supplementation on Anaerobic Power, Jump Performance, and Cognitive Reaction Time in Recreationally Active Males: A Randomized Crossover Trial
This randomized, double-blind, four-period crossover trial investigates the acute effects of creatine monohydrate, L-arginine, and their combined administration on anaerobic performance, jump performance, and cognitive reaction time in recreationally active adult males. Eighteen healthy male participants complete four experimental conditions in randomized order: placebo, creatine, L-arginine, and creatine plus L-arginine, with at least 72 hours between sessions. Sixty minutes after supplementation, participants perform the Stroop Color-Word Test, countermovement jump test, and Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test. Primary outcomes include peak power, average power, countermovement jump height, and incongruent Stroop reaction time. The study aims to determine whether acute co-supplementation produces greater ergogenic and cognitive benefits than either supplement alone or placebo.
Read the detailed description
Creatine monohydrate and L-arginine are widely used ergogenic supplements that may influence performance through different physiological mechanisms. Creatine contributes to rapid adenosine triphosphate resynthesis through phosphocreatine availability, whereas L-arginine serves as a precursor for nitric oxide synthesis and may enhance blood flow and substrate delivery during exercise. Their combined administration may therefore produce complementary effects on physical and cognitive performance.
This study uses a randomized, double-blind, four-treatment crossover design in recreationally active adult males. Each participant completes four conditions: placebo, creatine monohydrate, L-arginine, and combined creatine plus L-arginine. Sessions are separated by at least 72 hours, and all testing is conducted at the same time of day. Supplementation is administered 60 minutes before performance testing. Creatine is provided as a single acute dose of 0.3 g/kg, L-arginine as 6 g, and the placebo as a matched control beverage.
Outcome assessments include the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test for repeated-sprint power, the countermovement jump test for explosive lower-body performance, and the Stroop Color-Word Test for cognitive reaction time and accuracy. The primary objective is to examine whether acute co-supplementation with creatine and L-arginine improves anaerobic and cognitive outcomes more than placebo or either supplement alone.
- Being tested
- Creatine Monohydrate, L-Arginine, Placebo
- Keywords
- Creatine, L-Arginine, Dietary Supplementation, Countermovement Jump, Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test, Stroop Test, Reaction Time, Recreational Athletes, Crossover Trial
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Creatine MonohydrateDietary supplement
Acute oral creatine monohydrate supplementation at 0.3 g/kg body mass.
L-ArginineDietary supplement
Acute oral L-arginine supplementation at a dose of 6 g.
PlaceboOther
Placebo beverage containing 6 g sucrose dissolved in 250 mL of water.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Participants received 6 g sucrose dissolved in 250 mL of water as the placebo condition. Receives: Other: Placebo |
| Creatine | Experimental | Participants received a single acute dose of creatine monohydrate at 0.3 g/kg dissolved in 250 mL of water. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate |
| L-Arginine | Experimental | Participants received a single acute dose of 6 g L-arginine dissolved in 250 mL of water. Receives: Dietary Supplement: L-Arginine |
| Creatine + L-Arginine | Experimental | Participants received combined acute supplementation with creatine monohydrate at 0.3 g/kg plus 6 g L-arginine in 250 mL of water. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate; Dietary Supplement: L-Arginine |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
RAST Average Power
Average power during the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test following acute supplementation.
Measured: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
RAST Peak Power
Peak power during the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test following acute supplementation.
Measured: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Countermovement Jump Height
Best countermovement jump height measured using the Optojump system following acute supplementation.
Measured: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Stroop Incongruent Median Reaction Time
Median reaction time in the incongruent condition of the computerized Stroop Color-Word Test following acute supplementation.
Measured: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Secondary outcomes (2)
RAST Minimum Power
Minimum power during the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test following acute supplementation.
Measured: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
RAST Fatigue Index
Fatigue index during the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test following acute supplementation.
Measured: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2025
- Primary completion15 May 2025
- Study completion16 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Anaerobic PerformanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Inonu UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- Participants complete four experimental conditions in randomized counterbalanced order: placebo, creatine, L-arginine, and creatine plus L-arginine. Sessions are separated by at least 72 hours in a four-period crossover design.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür EKEN, Inonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07548541
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- INU-CRLA-2025-01
- Other IDs
- Approval No: 2025/6879
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
d'Unienville NMA, Blake HT, Coates AM, Hill AM, Nelson MJ, Buckley JD. Effect of food sources of nitrate, polyphenols, L-arginine and L-citrulline on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Dec 29;18(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00472-y.
PubMed 34965876Nyawose S, Naidoo R, Naumovski N, McKune AJ. The Effects of Consuming Amino Acids L-Arginine, L-Citrulline (and Their Combination) as a Beverage or Powder, on Athletic and Physical Performance: A Systematic Review. Beverages. 2022;8:48. https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages8030048
Meixner B, Stegmaier J, Renner P, Koehler K, Yang WH, Sperlich B. Supplementation of Creatine Monohydrate Improves Sprint Performance but Has no Effect on Glycolytic Contribution: A Nonrandomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial in Trained Cyclists. Curr Dev Nutr. 2025 Jan 28;9(2):104561. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.104561. eCollection 2025 Feb.
PubMed 40041626Vargas-Molina S, Garcia-Sillero M, Kreider RB, Salinas E, Petro JL, Benitez-Porres J, Bonilla DA. A randomized open-labeled study to examine the effects of creatine monohydrate and combined training on jump and scoring performance in young basketball players. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2022 Aug 8;19(1):529-542. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2022.2108683. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 35966022Fernandez-Landa J, Santibanez-Gutierrez A, Todorovic N, Stajer V, Ostojic SM. Effects of Creatine Monohydrate on Endurance Performance in a Trained Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2023 May;53(5):1017-1027. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01823-2. Epub 2023 Mar 6.
PubMed 36877404Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, Smith-Ryan A, Kleiner SM, Jager R, Collins R, Cooke M, Davis JN, Galvan E, Greenwood M, Lowery LM, Wildman R, Antonio J, Kreider RB. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018 Aug 1;15(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s12970-018-0242-y.
PubMed 30068354Eken O, Ucar H, Kurtoglu A, Ozan M, Buzdagli Y, Soyler M, Aldhahi MI. Acute Responses to Creatine Monohydrate and L-Arginine, Alone and Combined, on Repeated-Sprint Power, Countermovement Jump Height, and Stroop Reaction Time in Recreationally Active Men: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Trial. Metabolites. 2026 Sep 18;16(9):688. doi: 10.3390/metabo16090688.
PubMed 42783813
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acute Effects of Creatine and L-Arginine Co-Supplementation on Anaerobic Power, Jump Performance, and Cognitive Reaction Time in Recreationally Active Males: A Randomized Crossover Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07548541
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- INU-CRLA-2025-01
- Keywords
- Creatine, L-Arginine, Dietary Supplementation, Countermovement Jump, Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test, Stroop Test, Reaction Time, Recreational Athletes
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized, double-blind, four-period crossover trial investigates the acute effects of creatine monohydrate, L-arginine, and their combined administration on anaerobic performance, jump performance, and cognitive reaction time in recreationally active adult males. Eighteen healthy male participants complete four experimental conditions in randomized order: placebo, creatine, L-arginine, and creatine plus L-arginine, with at least 72 hours between sessions. Sixty minutes after supplementation, participants perform the Stroop Color-Word Test, countermovement jump test, and Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test. Primary outcomes include peak power, average power, countermovement jump height, and incongruent Stroop reaction time. The study aims to determine whether acute co-supplementation produces greater ergogenic and cognitive benefits than either supplement alone or placebo.
Detailed description
Creatine monohydrate and L-arginine are widely used ergogenic supplements that may influence performance through different physiological mechanisms. Creatine contributes to rapid adenosine triphosphate resynthesis through phosphocreatine availability, whereas L-arginine serves as a precursor for nitric oxide synthesis and may enhance blood flow and substrate delivery during exercise. Their combined administration may therefore produce complementary effects on physical and cognitive performance.
This study uses a randomized, double-blind, four-treatment crossover design in recreationally active adult males. Each participant completes four conditions: placebo, creatine monohydrate, L-arginine, and combined creatine plus L-arginine. Sessions are separated by at least 72 hours, and all testing is conducted at the same time of day. Supplementation is administered 60 minutes before performance testing. Creatine is provided as a single acute dose of 0.3 g/kg, L-arginine as 6 g, and the placebo as a matched control beverage.
Outcome assessments include the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test for repeated-sprint power, the countermovement jump test for explosive lower-body performance, and the Stroop Color-Word Test for cognitive reaction time and accuracy. The primary objective is to examine whether acute co-supplementation with creatine and L-arginine improves anaerobic and cognitive outcomes more than placebo or either supplement alone.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- Participants complete four experimental conditions in randomized counterbalanced order: placebo, creatine, L-arginine, and creatine plus L-arginine. Sessions are separated by at least 72 hours in a four-period crossover design.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: PlaceboParticipants received 6 g sucrose dissolved in 250 mL of water as the placebo condition. |
| Creatine | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Creatine MonohydrateParticipants received a single acute dose of creatine monohydrate at 0.3 g/kg dissolved in 250 mL of water. |
| L-Arginine | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: L-ArginineParticipants received a single acute dose of 6 g L-arginine dissolved in 250 mL of water. |
| Creatine + L-Arginine | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate, Dietary Supplement: L-ArginineParticipants received combined acute supplementation with creatine monohydrate at 0.3 g/kg plus 6 g L-arginine in 250 mL of water. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Male recreational athletes aged 18 years or older
- At least 2 years of regular participation in organized sport
- Apparently healthy and able to complete high-intensity exercise testing
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Known orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disorders
- Use of anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing drugs within the previous 3 months
- Use of psychoactive or stimulant substances during the study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Creatine MonohydrateAcute oral creatine monohydrate supplementation at 0.3 g/kg body mass. | Dietary supplement | Creatine, Creatine + L-Arginine |
| L-ArginineAcute oral L-arginine supplementation at a dose of 6 g. | Dietary supplement | Creatine + L-Arginine, L-Arginine |
| PlaceboPlacebo beverage containing 6 g sucrose dissolved in 250 mL of water. | Other | Placebo |
Primary outcome
RAST Average Power
Time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Average power during the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test following acute supplementation.
RAST Peak Power
Time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Peak power during the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test following acute supplementation.
Countermovement Jump Height
Time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Best countermovement jump height measured using the Optojump system following acute supplementation.
Stroop Incongruent Median Reaction Time
Time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Median reaction time in the incongruent condition of the computerized Stroop Color-Word Test following acute supplementation.
2 secondary outcomes
RAST Minimum Power
Time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
RAST Fatigue Index
Time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Apr 2026.
- Background: PubMed 34965876d'Unienville NMA, Blake HT, Coates AM, Hill AM, Nelson MJ, Buckley JD. Effect of food sources of nitrate, polyphenols, L-arginine and L-citrulline on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Dec 29;18(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00472-y.
- BackgroundNyawose S, Naidoo R, Naumovski N, McKune AJ. The Effects of Consuming Amino Acids L-Arginine, L-Citrulline (and Their Combination) as a Beverage or Powder, on Athletic and Physical Performance: A Systematic Review. Beverages. 2022;8:48. https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages8030048
- Background: PubMed 40041626Meixner B, Stegmaier J, Renner P, Koehler K, Yang WH, Sperlich B. Supplementation of Creatine Monohydrate Improves Sprint Performance but Has no Effect on Glycolytic Contribution: A Nonrandomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial in Trained Cyclists. Curr Dev Nutr. 2025 Jan 28;9(2):104561. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.104561. eCollection 2025 Feb.
- Background: PubMed 35966022Vargas-Molina S, Garcia-Sillero M, Kreider RB, Salinas E, Petro JL, Benitez-Porres J, Bonilla DA. A randomized open-labeled study to examine the effects of creatine monohydrate and combined training on jump and scoring performance in young basketball players. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2022 Aug 8;19(1):529-542. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2022.2108683. eCollection 2022.
- Background: PubMed 36877404Fernandez-Landa J, Santibanez-Gutierrez A, Todorovic N, Stajer V, Ostojic SM. Effects of Creatine Monohydrate on Endurance Performance in a Trained Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2023 May;53(5):1017-1027. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01823-2. Epub 2023 Mar 6.
- Background: PubMed 30068354Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, Smith-Ryan A, Kleiner SM, Jager R, Collins R, Cooke M, Davis JN, Galvan E, Greenwood M, Lowery LM, Wildman R, Antonio J, Kreider RB. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018 Aug 1;15(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s12970-018-0242-y.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42783813Eken O, Ucar H, Kurtoglu A, Ozan M, Buzdagli Y, Soyler M, Aldhahi MI. Acute Responses to Creatine Monohydrate and L-Arginine, Alone and Combined, on Repeated-Sprint Power, Countermovement Jump Height, and Stroop Reaction Time in Recreationally Active Men: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Trial. Metabolites. 2026 Sep 18;16(9):688. doi: 10.3390/metabo16090688.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Creatine Monohydrate and L-Arginine in people with Anaerobic Performance and Cognitive Performance, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
RAST Average Power (time frame: 60 minutes after supplementation, during the testing session). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07548541, which also lists 7 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Apr 2026.