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Beta-alanine supplementation improves isometric, but not isotonic or isokinetic strength endurance in recreationally strength-trained young men.

  • 2018-06-15
  • Amino acids 51(1)
    • Diogo Bassinello
    • Vitor de Salles Painelli
    • Eimear Dolan
    • Manoel Lixandrão
    • Monique Cajueiro
    • Mariana de Capitani
    • Bryan Saunders
    • Craig Sale
    • Guilherme G Artioli
    • Bruno Gualano
    • Hamilton Roschel

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 11
Population
Twenty recreationally strength-trained healthy males
Methods
parallel group, repeated measures, randomised, double-blinded and placebo-controlled design; 4 weeks of 6.4 g/day BA or placebo (maltodextrin)
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
4 weeks
β-Alanine (BA) supplementation may be ergogenic during high-intensity exercise, primarily due to the buffering of hydrogen cations, although the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on strength endurance are equivocal. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of 4 weeks of beta-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle endurance using a battery of performance tests. This study employed a parallel group, repeated measures, randomised, double-blinded and placebo-controlled design. Twenty recreationally strength-trained healthy males completed tests of isotonic strength endurance (repeated bench and leg press), along with tests of isometric and isokinetic endurance conducted using an isokinetic dynamometer. Tests were performed before and after a 4 week intervention, comprising an intake of 6.4 g day-1 of BA (n = 9) or placebo (maltodextrin, n = 11). Time-to-exhaustion during the isometric endurance test improved by ~ 17% in the BA group (p < 0.01), while PL remained unchanged. No significant within-group differences (p > 0.1) were shown for any of the performance variables in the isokinetic test (peak torque, fatigue index, total work) nor for the total number of repetitions performed in the isotonic endurance tests (leg or bench press). Four weeks of BA supplementation (6.4 g day-1) improved isometric, but not isokinetic or isotonic endurance performance.

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