Beta-alanine Supplementation and High-intensity Interval Training (BEAST)

Does Beta-alanine Supplementation Augment the Skeletal Muscle Adaptive Response to 8 Weeks of High-intensity Interval Training

The present study will seek to quantify whether a period of HIIT alongside β-alanine supplementation will improve the adaptation to training, and therefore performance, more than a period of HIIT alone.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Beta-alanine; Dietary supplement: Placebo

Detailed Description

Whilst high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a powerful stimulus to increase endurance exercise performance, there are potential nutritional interventions that can be put in place to further increase performance gains.

Energy for the contraction of muscles is created in the mitochondria. HIIT can improve the function of mitochondria, therefore improving performance.

Β-alanine is a commonly used supplement that can improve exercise performance by increasing the amount of carnosine in muscle. Carnosine has many functions that may help improve exercise capacity.

The present study will seek to quantify whether a period of HIIT alongside β-alanine supplementation will improve the adaptation to training, and therefore performance, more than a period of HIIT alone.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Devon
    • Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom, EX4 4JA
      • School of Sport and Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Moderately trained (vo2max: 50 - 60 ml/kg/min).
• Females must be taking an oral contraceptive, or using a contraceptive implant.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A recent history of musculoskeletal injury
• Diagnosed cardiovascular or metabolic disease
• Regular use of beta-alanine supplements

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HIIT + beta-alanine; Participants will ingest an active supplement containing beta-alanine for a period of 12 weeks. During the last 8 weeks of that period, participants will take part in a structured program of high-intensity interval training.	Dietary supplement: Beta-alanine; N/A: see arm description
Experimental: HIIT + placebo; Participants will ingest a placebo supplement containing no beta-alanine for a period of 12 weeks. During the last 8 weeks of that period, participants will take part in a structured program of high-intensity interval training.	Dietary supplement: Placebo; N/A: see arm description

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline work done on a cycle ergometer in a cycling capacity test at 110%VO2max following a period of 4 weeks of beta-alanine supplementation and then 8 weeks of beta-alanine supplementation and high intensity interval training	Subjects will have previously performed an incremental test to exhaustion (VO2max test). A work-load that corresponds to 110 % of the peak power output (Wmax) will be calculated, and participants will be asked to cycle at this power output until volitional exhaustion. This test will be preceded but a bout of 90-minute cycling at 65%VO2max. Tests will be performed on a Lode Excalibur Sport, and software linked to the bike will record data.	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
VO2max	VO2max will be determined from data collected through a metabolic cart. It will be measured during an incremental test to exhaustion performed on a cycle ergometer.	At weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 of study.
Substrate utilisation	Substrate utilisation will be calculated from data collected through a metabolic cart and its software. It will be measured during the 90-minute steady-state cycle for 4 periods of 3 minutes. Carbohydrate and lipid oxidation rates will be calculated using equations by Jeukendrup & Wallis (2005).	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Muscle carnosine concentration	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Muscle enzyme (citrate synthase, hexokinase, β-HAD, PFK) activity	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Muscle buffering capacity	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Muscle metabolites (AMP, ADP, ATP, Pi, IMP, PCr, Cr, lactate, pyruvate, NAD+/NADH, glucose, G6P, citrate)	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Muscle gene expression	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Plasma metabolites (NEFA, glucose, glycerol, lactate)	A cannula will be used to draw blood from subjects at several time points. Whole blood will be centrifuged immediately and its plasma split into aliquots and stored in a -80°C freezer for later analysis.	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.
Heart rate	Heart rate will be measured throughout with the use of a heart rate monitor.	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study, and through whole training period (weeks 8-12)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Exeter
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrew D Davenport, MSc, The University of Exeter

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 4, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 20, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): June 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 11, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): October 17, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 30, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2021
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 180509/B/02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No