Beta-alanine Supplementation and CrossFit Performance

May 24, 2024 updated by: Phil Chilibeck, University of Saskatchewan

Examining the Effects of 3-weeks Beta-Alanine Supplementation on CrossFit® Performance

This study will randomize CrossFit participants to receive beta-alanine or placebo supplementation for 3 weeks. The study will be double-blind. Performance on the "Fran" test will be completed at baseline and after the 3 week intervention. Respiratory exchange ratio will also be assessed during the performance test at baseline and after 3 weeks.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Beta-alanine is a nutritional supplement often consumed by people involved in high-intensity sports that involve substantial lactic acidosis. If consumed on a regular basis, it improves muscle buffering capacity and exercise performance during high-intensity moderate-duration events. CrossFit involves competitions that are high in intensity and moderate duration and many elite CrossFit athletes have reported taking beta-alanine as a supplement. It has never however been evaluated in a research study for its affect on CrossFit performance. The purpose of the study is therefore to assess the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on CrossFit performance. A maximum of 30 CrossFit participants will participate in this randomized double-blind parallel groups study. Participants will be randomized to receive 6.4 g/d beta-alanine or maltodextrin placebo for 3 weeks. At baseline and after the intervention, participants will complete a "Fran" test, which involves performing sets of repeated dumbbell thrusters alternating with chin-ups. The performance measure is the time to complete the test. During the test, respiratory exchange ratio will be assessed to indirectly assess acidosis.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

12

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Saskatchewan
      • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N5B2
        • University of Saskatchewan

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Minimum of one year of CrossFit experience and doing CrossFit training at least twice a week

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having consumed beta-alanine in the past six months
  • Having changed the dose of any other nutritional supplement within the past month
  • Having suffered a major physical injury in the past six months

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Beta-alanine
Beta-alanine to be given for three weeks
Dietary supplement: Beta-alanine
Beta-alanine
Placebo Comparator: Maltodextrin
Placebo to be given for three weeks
Dietary supplement: Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in time to perform a "Fran" CrossFit workout
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks
This involves alternating sets of dumbbell thrusters and pull-uips
Baseline, 3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in respiratory exchange ratio
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks
Respiratory exchange ratio (carbon dioxide exhaled relative to oxygen consumed) during the performance test
Baseline, 3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 15, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 4, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 14, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 29, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 24, 2024

Last Verified

May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2022_23_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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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