Exercise, oxidative stress and supplementation with creatine

The role of the creatine as ergogenic for athlete is based on the fact that 90% of the creatine of the body are stored in the skeletal muscle, where it represents, in the phosforylated form, together with the ATP, basic energy reserve for contraction. Recently it was reported that creatine, in isolated cells system, presents antioxidant properties against some oxidant agents. This alive effect, in, could contribute for the prevention of fatigue. However, in spite of consistent data of scientific literature on exercise indicating that creatine produce certain benefits to the performance, in Brazil, its commercialization was forbidden by the ANVISA (National Agency of Sanitary Monitoring). This fact signals the need to extend the knowledge on the physiological effect of this substance. The purpose of this review is to discuss effects of the supplementation with creatine in conjunction with exercise. In addition, to analyse its possible protective role against the formation of reactive oxygen species.