Fueling the Firefighter and Tactical Athlete with Creatine: A Narrative Review of a Key Nutrient for Public Safety.

Background/

Objectives

Firefighters, tactical police officers, and warriors often engage in periodic, intermittent, high-intensity physical work in austere environmental conditions and have a heightened risk of premature mortality. In addition, tough decision-making challenges, routine sleep deprivation, and trauma exacerbate this risk. Therefore, identifying strategies to bolster these personnel's health and occupational performance is critical. Creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may offer several benefits to firefighters and tactical athletes (e.g., police, security, and soldiers) due to its efficacy regarding physical performance, muscle, cardiovascular health, mental health, and cognitive performance.

Methods

We conducted a narrative review of the literature with a focus on the benefits and application of creatine monohydrate among firefighters.

Results

Recent evidence demonstrates that CrM can improve anaerobic exercise capacity and muscular fitness performance outcomes and aid in thermoregulation, decision-making, sleep, recovery from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and mental health. Emerging evidence also suggests that CrM may confer an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effect, which may be particularly important for firefighters and those performing tactical occupations exposed to oxidative and physiological stress, which can elicit systemic inflammation and increase the risk of chronic diseases.

Conclusions

This narrative review highlights the potential applications of CrM for related tactical occupations, with a particular focus on firefighters, and calls for further research into these populations.