Creatine for thinking and kidney stress after exercising in the heat

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Healthy adults aged 18–45 who are regularly active will complete a baseline visit with VO2max and cognitive testing, then take either creatine monohydrate (20 g/day) or a placebo for one week. After supplementation participants will complete two experimental exercise trials in the heat while researchers collect urine markers of inflammation and acute kidney injury and repeat cognitive assessments. Cognitive testing includes the NIH Toolbox Fluid Cognition Battery and the Color Word Stroop Test, and exercise is performed on a cycle ergometer with workloads scaled to body weight. The design compares creatine to maltodextrin placebo to see if short-term creatine changes urinary cytokines, AKI markers, or attenuates heat- and fatigue-related cognitive decline.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age range: 18-45 years old
* Physical Activity Level: Classified as 'active' using the criteria of engaging in planned exercise at least 3x/week, for a minimum of 30 minutes per session, over the past 3 months
* Aerobic Fitness Level: Subjects must have an aerobic fitness classification of at least 'good' per American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) criteria and assessed via maximal oxygen uptake test
* Health Status: Free of any known cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, or neurologic conditions.
* Physical Limitations: Indicates no physical limitations to cycling for \~ 90 minutes
* Supplementation: Reports no use of creatine within the past 4 weeks
* Recent Illness: Reports no presence of illness, vomiting, or diarrhea in the previous three days.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known allergy to creatine or maltodextrin.
* History of adverse heat-related events (e.g., heat exhaustion, heat stroke, severe dehydration requiring medical intervention)
* Reports use of medications or supplements that may interfere with thermoregulation, heart rate, kidney injury or blood pressure responses during exercise (e.g. NSAID)

Where it's running

• Wellness and Recreation Center
  Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Assistant Professor, PhD
• Email: jonathan.specht@uni.edu
• Phone: 5635137807

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.