Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

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
  • Nutricion hospitalaria 40(5)
    • Guillermo Barahona-Fuentes
    • Álvaro Huerta Ojeda
    • Sergio Galdames Maliqueo
    • María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera
    • Carlos Jorquera Aguilera

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
12 male middle-distance athletes
Methods
Quasi-experimental, intrasubject, double-blind crossover; low-dose BA (30 mg/kg), high-dose BA (45 mg/kg), and placebo, 72 hours apart; evaluated at end of 6-minute race test and post-exertion
Blinding
Double-blind
Funding
Unclear

Introduction

Background: the use of beta-alanine (BA) to increase physical performance in the heavy-intensity domain zone (HIDZ) is widely documented. However, the effect of this amino acid on the post-exertion rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate (BL) is still uncertain. Objectives: a) to determine the effect of acute BA supplementation on post-exertion RPE, HR, and BL in middle-distance athletes; and b) to determine the effect of acute BA supplementation on physical performance on the 6-minute race test (6-MRT). Material and methods: the study included 12 male middle-distance athletes. The de-sign was quasi-experimental, intrasubject, double-blind & crossover. It had two treat-ments (low-dose BA [30 mg·kg-1] and high-dose BA [45 mg·kg-1]) and a placebo, 72 hours apart. The effect of BA was evaluated at the end of the 6-MRT and post-exertion. The variables were RPE, HR and BL, and 6-MRT (m) distance. The statistical analysis included a repeated-measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: the analysis evidenced no significant differences at the end of 6-MRT for all variables (p ˃ 0.05). However, both doses of BA generated a lower post-exertion RPE. The high dose of BA caused significant increases in post-exertion BL (p ˂ 0.05). Conclusion: acute supplementation with BA generated a lower post-exertion RPE. This decrease in RPE and the post-exertion BL increase could be related to an increase in physical performance in HIDZ.

Research Insights

  • Beta-Alanine→Improved Physical Performance

    the analysis evidenced no significant differences at the end of 6-MRT for all variables

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    30 mg·kg-1 (low dose) and 45 mg·kg-1 (high dose)
  • Beta-Alanine→Increased Blood Lactate Level

    The high dose of BA caused significant increases in post-exertion BL (p ˂ 0.05)

    Effect
    Harmful
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    45 mg·kg-1 (high dose)
  • Beta-Alanine→Reduced Heart Rate

    the analysis evidenced no significant differences at the end of 6-MRT for all variables

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    30 mg·kg-1 (low dose) and 45 mg·kg-1 (high dose)
  • Beta-Alanine→Reduced Perceived Exertion

    both doses of BA generated a lower post-exertion RPE

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    30 mg·kg-1 (low dose) and 45 mg·kg-1 (high dose)
Back to top