Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Urinary Creatine and Phosphate in Athletes: Pre- and Post-Training Assessment

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Sports Science

Background:

• Creatine supplementation is popular among bodybuilders to enhance performance.
• Understanding creatine metabolism and excretion is crucial for assessing its effects and safety.
• Non-invasive methods for detecting biochemical markers in urine are valuable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detect biochemical components, specifically creatine and phosphate, in the urine of bodybuilders post-exercise.
• To compare urine samples from individuals who ingested creatine pre-training versus those who did not.
• To evaluate the utility of Raman spectroscopy for analyzing urine metabolites.

Main Methods:

• Twenty bodybuilders provided pre- and post-training urine samples.
• Ten participants ingested creatine 30 minutes before sample collection (creatine group); ten did not (control group).
• Raman spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to analyze urine spectra.

Main Results:

• Raman spectroscopy identified peaks corresponding to creatine and phosphate in the post-training urine of the creatine group.
• Analysis of spectral differences (post-pre) revealed distinct patterns between the creatine and control groups.
• PCA effectively differentiated between the sample groups based on their spectral data.

Conclusions:

• Raman spectroscopy is a viable method for detecting unmetabolized creatine and phosphate in urine.
• The presence of creatine and phosphate post-exercise in supplemented individuals suggests absorption, metabolism, and excretion.
• This technique offers potential for monitoring creatine supplementation and understanding its physiological fate.