Beta-Alanine and Reduced Heart Rate

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect5 studies · 0 beneficial · 5 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 5 studies, beta-alanine supplementation showed no significant effect on heart rate, with all 5 reporting neutral findings and small effect sizes. The most common dose ranged from 6.4 g/day to 45 mg/kg, and the studied populations primarily included athletes. Median study duration was 18 days, but most trials were short (7–28 days).

Effective dose range: 6.4 g/day
Studied populations: athletes

Caveats: Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. Evidence base is small (only 5 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary.

Generated Jun 12, 2026

Doses used in studies

g/day: 6.4 (median 6.4, IQR 6.4–6.4) — 2 studies
g: 155 (median 155, IQR 155–155) — 1 study
mg/kg/day: 45 (median 45, IQR 45–45) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 2.5 weeks · IQR 12 days–3.3 weeks · Range 7 days–4 weeks — Reported in 2 of 5 studies

5 of 5 papersPopulation:

Effects of Combined Versus Isolated Beta-Alanine and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical Capacity in Highly Trained Female Basketball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
- 2026-06-01
- RCT
- International journal of sports physiology and performance 21(6)
- - Jakub Adamczewski
  - Mikołaj Szymocha
  - Natalia Główka
  - Jacek Adrian
  - Krzysztof Durkalec-Michalski
- PubMed: 41838453
- DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0447
6 Insights on
- Reduced Heart Rate
- High evidence
- Athletes
BA+PLSB did not influence any physical capacity outcomes.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
6.4 g·d-1
Effects of Different Dietary Supplements on Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.
- 2024-12-26
- Systematic Review
- Nutrients 17(1)
- - Dongxiang Huang
  - Xiaobing Wang
  - Hideki Takagi
  - Shiwei Mo
  - Zhongzheng Wang
  - Daniel Hung-Kay Chow
  - Bo Huang
- PubMed: 39796467
- DOI: 10.3390/nu17010033
4 Insights on
- Reduced Heart Rate
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
No prominent differences were noted among the interventions in 50 m time, 200 m time, heart rate, and body mass.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Effect of high-dose β-Alanine supplementation on uphill cycling performance in World Tour cyclists: A randomised controlled trial.
- 2024-09-03
- RCT · n = 6
- PloS one 19(9)
- - Silvia Pérez-Piñero
  - Domingo Jesús Ramos-Campo
  - Francisco Javier López-Román
  - Raquel Ortolano
  - Antonio Torregrosa-García
  - Antonio Jesús Luque-Rubia
  - Natalia Ibáñez-Soroa
  - Luis Andreu-Caravaca
  - Vicente Ávila-Gandía
- PubMed: 39226288
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309404
5 Insights on
- Reduced Heart Rate
- High evidence
- Athletes
As for physiological and metabolic variables, no significant change was found.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
5 g per dosage, 4 times daily for 7 days plus 3 additional doses; total cumulative dose 155 g
Effects of acute beta-alanine supplementation on post-exertion rating of per-ceived exertion, heart rate, blood lactate, and physical performance on the 6-minute race test in middle-distance runners.
- 2023-10-01
- RCT
- Nutricion hospitalaria 40(5)
- - Guillermo Barahona-Fuentes
  - Álvaro Huerta Ojeda
  - Sergio Galdames Maliqueo
  - María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera
  - Carlos Jorquera Aguilera
- PubMed: 37073742
- DOI: 10.20960/nh.04432
4 Insights on
- Reduced Heart Rate
- High evidence
- Athletes
the analysis evidenced no significant differences at the end of 6-MRT for all variables
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
30 mg·kg-1 (low dose) and 45 mg·kg-1 (high dose)
Effects of Acute Beta-Alanine Ingestion and Immersion-Plus-Exercise on Connectedness to Nature and Perceived Pain.
- 2021-07-31
- RCT
- International journal of environmental research and public health 18(15)
- - R W Salatto
  - Graham R McGinnis
  - Dustin W Davis
  - Bryson Carrier
  - Jacob W Manning
  - Mark DeBeliso
  - James W Navalta
- PubMed: 34360425
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18158134
4 Insights on
- Reduced Heart Rate
- High evidence
No difference in HR (p = 0.846)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
6.4 g

Beta-Alanine and Reduced Heart Rate

Effects of Combined Versus Isolated Beta-Alanine and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Physical Capacity in Highly Trained Female Basketball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Effects of Different Dietary Supplements on Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Effect of high-dose β-Alanine supplementation on uphill cycling performance in World Tour cyclists: A randomised controlled trial.

Effects of acute beta-alanine supplementation on post-exertion rating of per-ceived exertion, heart rate, blood lactate, and physical performance on the 6-minute race test in middle-distance runners.

Effects of Acute Beta-Alanine Ingestion and Immersion-Plus-Exercise on Connectedness to Nature and Perceived Pain.