Beta-Alanine Supplementation and Sport Climbing Performance.

2021-05-18
International journal of environmental research and public health 18(10)
- Krzysztof Sas-Nowosielski
- Judyta Wyciślik
- Piotr Kaczka

PubMed: 34069981
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105370

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: Fifteen elite climbers
Methods: Double-blind, pre/post experimental design, 4 weeks of 4.0 g·d^-1 BA or placebo, intermittent high-force high-velocity campus board exercise and two bouldering traverses
Blinding: Double-blind
Duration: four weeks
Funding: Unclear

Background

Supplementing β-alanine (BA) improves exercise performance in efforts that are highly dependent on anaerobic glycolysis. As it has not yet been established whether it relates to climbing, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of BA on climbing-specific performance.

Methods

Fifteen elite climbers performed intermittent high-force high-velocity campus board exercise, and two bouldering traverses, hard and easy. They ingested 4.0 g·d^-1 BA or placebo for four weeks in a double-blind, pre/post experimental design.

Results

In the campus board trial, ANOVA revealed a tendency toward significance (p = 0.066). Post hoc analysis revealed that there was a significant (p = 0.002) and "large" (d = 1.55) increase in the total number of "slaps" in the BA group. No significant supplementation × group interaction was found in "hard" traverse and a significant interaction for mean changes in number of moves (p = 0.025) and in time to failure (p = 0.044) on an "easy" traverse. Post hoc analysis revealed that only the BA group significantly improved from baseline in number of moves (+9.5) and time to failure (+32 s). Effect sizes were d = 1.73 and d = 1.44, respectively.

Conclusions

Four weeks of BA supplementation can improve performance during continuous climbing lasting about 1 min and repeated bouts of upper body campus-like movements. However, it failed to enhance climbing of a shorter duration.

Research Insights

Beta-Alanine→Improved Bouldering Traverse Performance
No significant supplementation × group interaction was found in 'hard' traverse
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
4.0 g·d⁻¹
Beta-Alanine→Improved Campus Board Performance
ANOVA revealed a tendency toward significance (p = 0.066)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
4.0 g·d⁻¹
Beta-Alanine→Increased Number of Moves
a significant interaction for mean changes in number of moves (p = 0.025) ... Post hoc analysis revealed that only the BA group significantly improved from baseline in number of moves (+9.5) ... Effect sizes were d = 1.73
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
4.0 g/day
Beta-Alanine→Increased SLAP Lesion Count
In the campus board trial, ANOVA revealed a tendency toward significance (p = 0.066).
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
4.0 g/day
Beta-Alanine→Increased Stool Frequency
No significant supplementation × group interaction was found in 'hard' traverse
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
4.0 g/day
Beta-Alanine→Increased Time to Failure
and in time to failure (p = 0.044) on an 'easy' traverse. Post hoc analysis revealed that only the BA group significantly improved ... time to failure (+32 s). Effect sizes were ... d = 1.44
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
4.0 g/day