Doubling of muscle carnosine concentration does not improve laboratory 1-hr cycling time-trial performance.
Muscle carnosine loading through chronic oral beta-alanine supplementation has been shown to be effective for short-duration, high-intensity exercise. This randomized, placebo-controlled study explored whether the ergogenic effect of beta-alanine supplementation is also present for longer duration exercise. Subjects (27 well-trained cyclists/triathletes) were supplemented with either beta-alanine or placebo (6.4 g/day) for 6 weeks. Time to completion and physiological variables for a 1-hr cycling time-trial were compared between preand postsupplementation. Muscle carnosine concentration was also assessed via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after supplementation. Following beta-alanine supplementation, muscle carnosine concentration was increased by 143 ± 151% (mean ± SD; p < .001) in the gastrocnemius and 161 ± 56% (p < .001) in the soleus. Postsupplementation time trial performance was significantly slower in the placebo group (60.6 ± 4.4-63.0 ± 5.4 min; p < .01) and trended toward a slower performance following beta-alanine supplementation (59.8 ± 2.8-61.7 ± 3.0 min; p = .069). We found an increase in lactate/proton concentration ratio following beta-alanine supplementation during the time-trial (209.0 ± 44.0 (beta-alanine) vs. 161.9 ± 54.4 (placebo); p < .05), indicating that a similar lactate concentration was accompanied by a lower degree of systemic acidosis, even though this acidosis was quite moderate (pH ranging from 7.30 to 7.40). In conclusion, chronic beta-alanine supplementation in well-trained cyclists had a very pronounced effect on muscle carnosine concentration and a moderate attenuating effect on the acidosis associated with lactate accumulation, yet without affecting 1-h time-trial performance under laboratory conditions.
Dept. of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Weiliang
W
Chung
Audrey
A
Baguet
Tine
T
Bex
David J
DJ
Bishop
Wim
W
Derave
D000138:Acidosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D002336:Carnosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015091:beta-Alanine; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002336:Carnosine