What did GNC study?
GNC AMP Creatine 189 is an innovative creatine technology that pairs creatine hydrochloride with polyethylene glycosylate (PEG) to create the PEG-Creatine system™. To prove its effectiveness as a technology-enhanced creatine, GNC studied this system compared to creatine monohydrate to explore differences in the uptake of creatine in skeletal muscle and its impact on athletic performance.
Study 1
What was the objective of the study?
The primary objective of the first study on GNC AMP Creatine 189 was to compare the uptake of creatine in muscle between study groups (PEG-Creatine system™ providing a total of 10g of creatine versus creatine monohydrate providing a total of 20g of creatine). The hypothesis was that the addition of the polyethylene glycosylate would allow for more creatine to be absorbed into the muscle even by using a smaller dose than creatine monohydrate alone. To quantify the amount of creatine in the muscle, small samples of the vastus lateralis muscle, also known as muscle biopsies, were obtained before supplementation and at the end of the supplementation period which lasted for five days total.
Who were the study participants?
Seventeen healthy male volunteers, ages 18-35 years were included in the study.
What were the results of the study?
Results of the study revealed that even with a smaller dose of creatine there was 189% greater muscle creatine uptake with the PEG-Creatine system™ group as compared to the creatine monohydrate group. This means that GNC AMP Creatine 189 resulted in 189% superior absorption versus traditional creatine. (Ever wonder where we got the GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™ name? Now you know!)
What does this mean?
It means you get more with less! Tired of taking scoops of creatine powder? Now you can get even better absorption in a dose that fits into a convenient pill! Plus, more creatine getting to your muscles means better potential for fitness benefits.
READ MORE: 3 Benefits of Creatine
Study 2
What was the objective of the study?
The primary objective of the second study on PEG-Creatine system™ was to compare the effect of supplementation with on performance measures including muscle strength and endurance. Subjects took 1.25g of the PEG-Creatine System,5g of creatine monohydrate, or a placebo for 30 days.
Who were the study participants?
Fifty-seven healthy, young recreationally active male volunteers, ages 19-29 years were included in the study.
What were the results of the study?
Study participants who took GNC AMP Creatine 189™ containing only 1.25 grams of the PEG-Creatine system™ significantly improved leg press one repetition maximum (1-RM) performance by 54.3 Ibs, while subjects receiving the 5 grams of creatine monohydrate significantly improved performance by 52.3 Ibs, and the placebo group showed no significant improvement at 5.7 Ibs. at the end of the study.
What does this mean?
Building upon the findings of the first study, this study confirms that the PEG-Creatine system™ provides benefits expected of creatine. Further to this, it seems to do so more efficiently as evidenced by similar results related to 1-RM max between the 1.25g creatine PEG-Creatine system™ group compared to the 5 gram creatine monohydrate group. The same benefits at a quarter of the dose!
Ready to get your hands on GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™ to take your performance to the next level?
SHOP: GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™
References
- Fry, Andrew C.1; Parra, Mandy E.2; Cabarkapa, Dimitrije1. Supplemental Creatine Modified With Polyethylene Glycol Effectively Loads Skeletal Muscle With Lower Doses. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(5):p 1256-1261, May 2021. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003906. https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2021/05000/Supplemental_Creatine_Modified_With_Polyethylene.12.aspx
- Herda TJ, Beck TW, Ryan ED, Smith AE, Walter AA, Hartman MJ, Stout JR, Cramer JT. Effects of creatine monohydrate and polyethylene glycosylated creatine supplementation on muscular strength, endurance, and power output. J Strength Cond Res. 2009 May;23(3):818-26. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181a2ed11. PMID: 19387397. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19387397/