Open AccessEffects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Sprint Endurance
Author(s) -
Andrew R. Jagim,
Glenn Wright,
A. G. Brice,
Scott T. Doberstein
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of strength and conditioning research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.569
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1533-4287
pISSN - 1064-8011
DOI - 10.1519/jsc.0b013e318256bedc
Subject(s) - sprint , placebo , blood lactate , medicine , treadmill , creatine , intensity (physics) , heart rate , physical therapy , zoology , blood pressure , biology , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics
Recent research has shown that beta-alanine (BA) supplementation can increase intramuscular carnosine levels. Carnosine is an intramuscular buffer, and it has been linked to improvements in performance, specifically during bouts of high-intensity exercise that are likely limited by muscle acidosis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of BA supplementation on sprint endurance at 2 different supramaximal intensities. Twenty-one anaerobically trained (rugby players [n = 4], wrestlers [n = 11], and recreationally strength trained athletes [n = 6]) college-aged men participated in a double-blind, placebo controlled study. The subjects performed an incremental VO2max test and 2 sprint to exhaustion tests set at 115 and 140% of their VO2max on a motorized treadmill before (PRE) and after (POST) a 5-week supplementation period. During this time, the subjects ingested either a BA supplement or placebo (PLA) with meals. The subjects ingested 4 g·d(-1) of BA or PLA during the first week and 6 g·d(-1) the following 4 weeks. Capillary blood samples were taken before and after each sprint to determine blood lactate response to the sprint exercise. No significant group (BA, PLA) × intensity (115%, 140%; p = 0.60), group by time (PRE, POST; p = 0.72), or group × intensity × time (p = 0.74) interactions were observed for time to exhaustion. In addition, similar nonsignificant observations were made for lactate response to the sprints (group × intensity, p = 0.43; group × time, p = 0.33, group × intensity × time, p = 0.56). From the results of this study, it was concluded that beta-alanine supplementation did not have a significant effect on sprint endurance at supramaximal intensities.