madman
Super Moderator
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the effects of chronic beta-alanine (BA) supplementation on muscle taurine content, blood clinical markers and sensory side-effects.
Methods Twenty-five healthy male participants (age 27 ± 4 years, height 1.75 ± 0.09 m, body mass 78.9 ± 11.7 kg) were supplemented with 6.4 g day−1 of sustained-release BA (N = 16; CarnoSyn™, NAI, USA) or placebo (PL; N = 9; maltodextrin) for 24 weeks. Resting muscle biopsies of the m. vastus lateralis were taken at 0, 12 and 24 weeks and analysed for taurine content (BA, N = 12; PL, N = 6) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Resting venous blood samples were taken every 4 weeks and analysed for markers of renal, hepatic and muscle function (BA, N = 15; PL, N = 8; aspartate transaminase; alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; lactate dehydrogenase; albumin; globulin; creatinine; estimated glomerular filtration rate and creatine kinase).
Results There was a significant main effect of group (p = 0.04) on muscle taurine, with overall lower values in PL, although there was no main effect of time or interaction effect (both p > 0.05) and no differences between specific timepoints (week 0, BA: 33.67 ± 8.18 mmol kg−1 dm, PL: 27.75 ± 4.86 mmol kg−1 dm; week 12, BA: 35.93 ± 8.79 mmol kg−1 dm, PL: 27.67 ± 4.75 mmol kg−1 dm; week 24, BA: 35.42 ± 6.16 mmol kg−1 dm, PL: 31.99 ± 5.60 mmol kg−1 dm). There was no effect of treatment, time or any interaction effects on any blood marker (all p > 0.05) and no self-reported side-effects in these participants throughout the study.
Conclusions The current study showed that 24 weeks of BA supplementation at 6.4 g day−1 did not significantly affect muscle taurine content, clinical markers of renal, hepatic and muscle function, nor did it result in chronic sensory side-effects, in healthy individuals. Since athletes are likely to engage in chronic supplementation, these data provide important evidence to suggest that supplementation with BA at these doses for up to 24 weeks is safe for healthy individuals.
The current study showed that 24 weeks of BA supplementation at 6.4 g day−1 did not negatively impact muscle taurine content, clinical markers of renal, hepatic or muscle function, nor did it result in any chronic sensory side-effects. Since athletes are likely to engage in prolonged periods of supplementation, these data provide important evidence to suggest that, if they are healthy individuals, they can safely supplement with BA at these high doses for up to 24 weeks. Further work should elucidate the tolerable upper intake level that poses no risk for adverse effects to the general population.
Purpose To investigate the effects of chronic beta-alanine (BA) supplementation on muscle taurine content, blood clinical markers and sensory side-effects.
Methods Twenty-five healthy male participants (age 27 ± 4 years, height 1.75 ± 0.09 m, body mass 78.9 ± 11.7 kg) were supplemented with 6.4 g day−1 of sustained-release BA (N = 16; CarnoSyn™, NAI, USA) or placebo (PL; N = 9; maltodextrin) for 24 weeks. Resting muscle biopsies of the m. vastus lateralis were taken at 0, 12 and 24 weeks and analysed for taurine content (BA, N = 12; PL, N = 6) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Resting venous blood samples were taken every 4 weeks and analysed for markers of renal, hepatic and muscle function (BA, N = 15; PL, N = 8; aspartate transaminase; alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; lactate dehydrogenase; albumin; globulin; creatinine; estimated glomerular filtration rate and creatine kinase).
Results There was a significant main effect of group (p = 0.04) on muscle taurine, with overall lower values in PL, although there was no main effect of time or interaction effect (both p > 0.05) and no differences between specific timepoints (week 0, BA: 33.67 ± 8.18 mmol kg−1 dm, PL: 27.75 ± 4.86 mmol kg−1 dm; week 12, BA: 35.93 ± 8.79 mmol kg−1 dm, PL: 27.67 ± 4.75 mmol kg−1 dm; week 24, BA: 35.42 ± 6.16 mmol kg−1 dm, PL: 31.99 ± 5.60 mmol kg−1 dm). There was no effect of treatment, time or any interaction effects on any blood marker (all p > 0.05) and no self-reported side-effects in these participants throughout the study.
Conclusions The current study showed that 24 weeks of BA supplementation at 6.4 g day−1 did not significantly affect muscle taurine content, clinical markers of renal, hepatic and muscle function, nor did it result in chronic sensory side-effects, in healthy individuals. Since athletes are likely to engage in chronic supplementation, these data provide important evidence to suggest that supplementation with BA at these doses for up to 24 weeks is safe for healthy individuals.
The current study showed that 24 weeks of BA supplementation at 6.4 g day−1 did not negatively impact muscle taurine content, clinical markers of renal, hepatic or muscle function, nor did it result in any chronic sensory side-effects. Since athletes are likely to engage in prolonged periods of supplementation, these data provide important evidence to suggest that, if they are healthy individuals, they can safely supplement with BA at these high doses for up to 24 weeks. Further work should elucidate the tolerable upper intake level that poses no risk for adverse effects to the general population.
