BIO

My name is Ashley Jancura. I am a Freshman at FSU majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry on a Pre-Medical track. I am very interested in the Cardiovascular system and plan to continue my research in the medical field.

Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation Improves Microvascular Blood Flow But Not Glucose Homeostasis in Response to a Meal

Abstract

Consumption of high-carbohydrate (HC) or high-fat (HF) meals are known to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), which underlie the development of cardiovascular disease. The consumption of HF meals are known to induce hyperglycemia which can increase ROS. NADPH oxidase (NOX) is a primary source of ROS in the vasculature, but the effects of NOX-generated ROS on in vivo microvascular blood flow following a HC or HF meal are unclear. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether five days of CM supplementation can reduce in vivo ROS concentrations, improve microvascular blood flow, and reduce hyperglycemia in response to a HC meal.
Young, healthy males and females were studied. Microdialysis was utilized to measure local skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) ROS concentrations and microvascular blood flow at rest and for four hours after consumption of either a HC (150 grams of glucose) or HF (66 grams of fat) meal. A continuous glucose monitor was inserted into the subcutaneous adipose tissue to collect readings of interstitial glucose levels throughout the study. One microdialysis probe was perfused with a control saline solution containing 5 mM ethanol (CON). Microvascular blood flow was assessed by ethanol outflow-to-inflow ratio (o:i), which is inversely related to blood flow. Microdialysis procedures were repeated after five days of CM supplementation (20 g/day). Following five days of CM supplementation, ROS concentrations and microvascular blood flow were significantly increased at 180 mins post HC/HF consumption. No change in interstitial glucose levels were observed with CM supplementation.

Keywords: Cardiovascular, Blood Flow, Glucose, Creatine, Microvascular