Beta-alanine improves sprint performance in endurance cycling
Randomised controlled trialHumansWith beta-alanine (carnosine precursor)
This study tested carnosine together with beta-alanine (carnosine precursor). Its results cannot be assigned to carnosine alone. More combination studies.
- Design
- Randomised controlled trial
- Subjects
- 17 moderately to well-trained cyclists (9 beta-alanine, 8 placebo)
- Dose used in the study
- 2 to 4 g/day beta-alanine
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- What was measured
- Mean power in a 10-minute time trial and peak and mean power in a 30-second isokinetic sprint (100 rpm) after a 110-minute simulated race, before and after supplementation; blood lactate and pH.
What the authors reported
Mean power in the 10-minute time trial (about 300 W) was similar between groups before and after supplementation. In the final sprint, beta-alanine increased peak power by 11.4% compared with placebo (95% CI 7.8 to 14.9%, P = 0.0001) and mean power by 5.0% (95% CI 2.0 to 8.1%, P = 0.005). Blood lactate and pH were similar between groups.
Limits of this study
Small double-blind sample (17); muscle carnosine was not reported in the abstract. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 19276843 · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31818db708
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.