title: Effect of 10 week beta-alanine supplementation on competition and training performance in elite swimmers.
abstract: Although some laboratory-based studies show an ergogenic effect with beta-alanine supplementation, there is a lack of field-based research in training and competition settings. Elite/Sub-elite swimmers (n = 23 males and 18 females, age = 21.7 ± 2.8 years; mean ± SD) were supplemented with either beta-alanine (4 weeks loading phase of 4.8 g/day and 3.2 g/day thereafter) or placebo for 10 weeks. Competition performance times were log-transformed, then evaluated before (National Championships) and after (international or national selection meet) supplementation. Swimmers also completed three standardized training sets at baseline, 4 and 10 weeks of supplementation. Capillary blood was analyzed for pH, bicarbonate and lactate concentration in both competition and training. There was an unclear effect (0.4%; ± 0.8%, mean, ± 90% confidence limits) of beta-alanine on competition performance compared to placebo with no meaningful changes in blood chemistry. While there was a transient improvement on training performance after 4 weeks with beta-alanine (-1.3%; ± 1.0%), there was an unclear effect at ten weeks (-0.2%; ± 1.5%) and no meaningful changes in blood chemistry. Beta-alanine supplementation appears to have minimal effect on swimming performance in non-laboratory controlled real-world training and competition settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia. weiliang.chung@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Weiliang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.forename: Philo U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015091:beta-Alanine