The effects of 28 days of beta-alanine supplementation on the physical working capacity at heart rate threshold (PWCHRT)

Beta-alanine (BA) supplementation has proven to be an effective means of delaying fatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 28 days of BA supplementation on the physical working capacity at heart rate threshold (PWCHRT), a submaximal aerobic fatigue measure. Testing included eight-nine total visits: an enrollment day, resting EKG, physical screening, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), and two PWCHRT assessments over four days. Thirty subjects (mean ± SD; age 21.0 ± 2.1 years; body mass 72.7 ± 14.5kg; height 170.1 ± 7.9 cm) were randomly assigned to BA (n=15) or placebo (PL, n=15) groups. Significant differences existed between BA and PL for PWCHRT (p=0.000; BAΔ=+24.2, PLΔ=+11.2), but not for VO2peak (p=0.222), TTE (p= 0.562), or VT (p=0.134). Change scores with 95% confidence intervals showed significant improvements in PWCHRT and TTE for BA only. BA may increase heart rate training threshold.Master of Art