Biology of Sport

Abstract

1/2023 vol. 40
Original paper

Does beta-alanine supplementation enhance adaptations to resistance training? A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

  1. Methodist University of Piracicaba, Human Performance Research Laboratory, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
  2. School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  3. California State University Northridge, CA, USA
Biol Sport. 2023;40(1):217–224.
Online publish date: 2022/03/16
View full text
Confronting perimenopausal women’s knowledge of coronary heart disease with their health behaviours. Controversial role of hormone replacement therapy in the protection of coronary heart disease
The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on muscle strength and thickness. Nineteen resistance-trained men (age: 27.3±5.5 years; height: 178±10 cm; body mass: 83.4±9.7 kg; training experience: 5.9±3.9 years) were allocated to one of the following groups: Beta-alanine (BA) (6.4 g/day of beta-alanine) or Placebo (PLA) (6.4 g/day of maltodextrin). Subjects completed 4 resistance training sessions per week for 8 weeks. The following assessments were performed before and after intervention periods: 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and 60%1RM tests in the bench press (60%1RMBENCH) and back squat (60%1RMSQUAT) exercises; muscle thickness assessment of biceps brachialis (MTBB), triceps brachialis (MTTB), and vastus lateralis (MTVL) by ultrasonography. No significant difference between groups was observed for the absolute increase (pre-post intervention) in the 1RMBENCH (mean difference = 0.8 kg; p = 0.679), 1RMSQUAT (mean difference = 0.1 kg; p = 0.992), MTBB (mean difference = 0.7 mm; p = 0.637), MTTB (mean difference = 1.4 mm; p = 0.282), MTVL (mean difference = 1.6 mm; p = 0.311), 60%1RMBENCH (mean difference = 0.5 repetitions; p = 0.670) and 60%1RMSQUAT (mean difference = 0.7 repetitions; p = 0.690). In conclusion, the 8-week training period induced significant strength and morphological responses. However, the addition of beta-alanine supplementation did not enhance these adaptive outcomes.
Share
without publication fees