Effect of β-alanine Supplementation on Muscle Carnosine

Effect of Two 8-week β-alanine Supplementation Protocols on Muscle Carnosine

Carnosine is a natural acid buffering substance of muscle. The primary objective of this study is to test whether a nutritional supplement of beta-alanine enhances carnosine content in muscle.

Volunteers will be randomized to receiving 3 nutritional supplements. Two supplements contain beta-alanine at different doses, the third supplement is a placebo.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stable health as evaluated by medical evaluation
• Body mass index higher than 18 kg/m2
• Body mass index lower than 25 kg/m2, unless body fat is less than 20%

Exclusion Criteria:

• intolerance to β-alanine,
• allergy to soy, fish and crustacean
• participation in another intervention study
• consumer of dietary supplement susceptible to contain beta-alanine
• determined to have very high baseline muscle carnosine concentration