Beta-alanine is taken as a powder: no food concentrates enough of it

Beta-alanine is taken as a powder: no food concentrates enough of it

Alex Saks · Unsplash

Limited evidence15 studies

Beta-alanine

An amino acid that delays the onset of muscle fatigue during intense exercise.

EnduranceMuscle

Benefits

  • Delays the onset of muscle fatigue during exercise
  • Improves endurance during intense exercise lasting between 1 and 4 minutes
  • Make sure you take creatine to boost your performance

Where to buy

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Precautions

May cause mild tingling (paraesthesia) at high doses; spread out the doses to minimise this.

Recommended dosage

3.2 to 6.4 g per day, taken in several doses

Did you know?

The only reported side effect is paraesthesia (tingling), which can be alleviated by using lower, divided doses or an extended-release formulation.

What the studies say

  • A short-term beta-alanine supplementation programme (30 days, 4.5 g/day) in American football players did not result in any significant improvements in fatigue levels during high-intensity anaerobic exercise. However, it did increase training volume and reduce the athletes’ subjective feelings of fatigue. This suggests that beta-alanine may improve training capacity and the perception of fatigue in highly trained athletes.

    Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Faigenbaum AD, Ross R, Kang J, Stout JR, Wise JA. — (2008)View the source study

Pairs well with

For information only: not a substitute for medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a replacement for a varied, balanced diet. Learn more