Effect of 10 Week Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Competition and Training Performance in Elite Swimmers

Nutrients

Weiliang Chung¹  Greg Shaw³  Megan E. Anderson⁴  David B. Pyne¹  Philo U. Saunders¹  David J. Bishop² 

[1] Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia;Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Ballarat Road, Footscray Park, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia;Department of Sports Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia;Department of Physiology, Queensland Academy of Sport, Level 1 Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia;

关键词: carnosine;    physiology;    ergogenic aid;    swimming;    exercise;    athlete;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu4101441

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Although some laboratory-based studies show an ergogenic effect with beta-alanine supplementation, there is a lack of field-based research in training and competition settings. Elite/Sub-elite swimmers (n = 23 males and 18 females, age = 21.7 ± 2.8 years; mean ± SD) were supplemented with either beta-alanine (4 weeks loading phase of 4.8 g/day and 3.2 g/day thereafter) or placebo for 10 weeks. Competition performance times were log-transformed, then evaluated before (National Championships) and after (international or national selection meet) supplementation. Swimmers also completed three standardized training sets at baseline, 4 and 10 weeks of supplementation. Capillary blood was analyzed for pH, bicarbonate and lactate concentration in both competition and training. There was an unclear effect (0.4%; ±0.8%, mean, ±90% confidence limits) of beta-alanine on competition performance compared to placebo with no meaningful changes in blood chemistry. While there was a transient improvement on training performance after 4 weeks with beta-alanine (−1.3%; ±1.0%), there was an unclear effect at ten weeks (−0.2%; ±1.5%) and no meaningful changes in blood chemistry. Beta-alanine supplementation appears to have minimal effect on swimming performance in non-laboratory controlled real-world training and competition settings.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.