Influence of training status on high-intensity intermittent performance in response to beta-alanine supplementation

Author(s)

Painelli, Vitor de Salles ^[1] ; Saunders, Bryan ^{[1, 2]} ; Sale, Craig ^[2] ; Harris, Roger Charles ^[3] ; Solis, Marina Yazigi ^[1] ; Roschel, Hamilton ^[1] ; Gualano, Bruno ^[1] ; Artioli, Guilherme Giannini ^[1] ; Lancha, Jr., Antonio Herbert ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Appl Nutr & Metab, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Nottingham Trent Univ, Biomed Life & Hlth Sci Res Ctr, Nottingham NG11 8NS - England

^[3] Junipa Ltd, Newmarket, Suffolk - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Amino Acids; v. 46, n. 5, p. 1207-1215, MAY 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 22

Abstract

Recent investigations have suggested that highly trained athletes may be less responsive to the ergogenic effects of beta-alanine (BA) supplementation than recreationally active individuals due to their elevated muscle buffering capacity. We investigated whether training status influences the effect of BA on repeated Wingate performance. Forty young males were divided into two groups according to their training status (trained: T, and non-trained: NT cyclists) and were randomly allocated to BA and a dextrose-based placebo (PL) groups, providing four experimental conditions: NTPL, NTBA, TPL, TBA. BA (6.4 g day(-1)) or PL was ingested for 4 weeks, with participants completing four 30-s lower-body Wingate bouts, separated by 3 min, before and after supplementation. Total work done was significantly increased following supplementation in both NTBA (p = 0.03) and TBA (p = 0.002), and it was significantly reduced in NTPL (p = 0.03) with no difference for TPL (p = 0.73). BA supplementation increased mean power output (MPO) in bout 4 for the NTBA group (p = 0.0004) and in bouts 1, 2 and 4 for the TBA group (p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05). No differences were observed in MPO for NTPL and TPL. BA supplementation was effective at improving repeated high-intensity cycling performance in both trained and non-trained individuals, highlighting the efficacy of BA as an ergogenic aid for high-intensity exercise regardless of the training status of the individual. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/04806-0 - Effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity intermittent training on intramuscular carnosine concentrations
• Grantee: Vitor de Salles Painelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/11221-0 - Artificial elevation of muscle buffering capacity: effects upon muscle performance and function and underlying mechanisms
• Grantee: Antonio Herbert Lancha Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants