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Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis.

  • 2022-05-31
  • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 19(1)
    • Damoon Ashtary-Larky
    • Reza Bagheri
    • Matin Ghanavati
    • Omid Asbaghi
    • Alexei Wong
    • Jeffrey R Stout
    • Katsuhiko Suzuki

Study Design

Type
Meta-Analysis
Sample size
n = 492
Population
492 participants from 20 randomized controlled trials
Methods
Systematic review and meta-analysis; online databases searched up to April 2021 to retrieve RCTs; random-effects model; I^2 index for heterogeneity

Purpose

Previous studies have suggested that beta-alanine supplementation may benefit exercise performance, but current evidence regarding its effects on body composition remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition indices.

Methods

Online databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, were searched up to April 2021 to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which examined the effect of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition indices. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model. The I2 index was used to assess the heterogeneity of RCTs.

Results

Among the initial 1413 studies that were identified from electronic databases search, 20 studies involving 492 participants were eligible. Pooled effect size from 20 studies indicated that beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on body mass (WMD: -0.15 kg; 95% CI: -0.78 to 0.47; p = 0.631, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.998), fat mass (FM) (WMD: -0.24 kg; 95% CI: -1.16 to 0.68; p = 0.612, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.969), body fat percentage (BFP) (WMD: -0.06%; 95% CI: -0.53 to 0.40; p = 0.782, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.936), and fat-free mass (FFM) (WMD: 0.05 kg; 95% CI: -0.71 to 0.82; p = 0.889, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.912). Subgroup analyses based on exercise type (resistance training [RT], endurance training [ET], and combined training [CT]), study duration (<8 and ≥8 weeks), and beta-alanine dosage (<6 and ≥6 g/d) demonstrated similar results. Certainty of evidence across outcomes ranged from low to moderate.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis study suggests that beta-alanine supplementation is unlikely to improve body composition indices regardless of supplementation dosage and its combination with exercise training. No studies have examined the effect of beta-alanine combined with both diet and exercise on body composition changes as the primary variable. Therefore, future studies examining the effect of the combination of beta-alanine supplementation with a hypocaloric diet and exercise programs are warranted.

Research Insights

  • Beta-Alanine→Increased Fat-Free Mass

    beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on fat-free mass (FFM) (WMD: 0.05 kg; 95% CI: -0.71 to 0.82; p = 0.889, I² = 0.0%, p = 0.912)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Beta-Alanine→Reduced Body Fat Mass

    beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on fat mass (FM) (WMD: -0.24 kg; 95% CI: -1.16 to 0.68; p = 0.612, I² = 0.0%, p = 0.969)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Beta-Alanine→Reduced Body Fat Percentage

    beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on body fat percentage (BFP) (WMD: -0.06%; 95% CI: -0.53 to 0.40; p = 0.782, I² = 0.0%, p = 0.936)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Beta-Alanine→Reduced Body Mass

    Pooled effect size from 20 studies indicated that beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on body mass (WMD: -0.15 kg; 95% CI: -0.78 to 0.47; p = 0.631, I² = 0.0%, p = 0.998)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
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