| Title |
Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Amino Acids, January 2012
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00726-011-1200-z |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
R. M. Hobson, B. Saunders, G. Ball, R. C. Harris, C. Sale |
| Abstract |
Due to the well-defined role of β-alanine as a substrate of carnosine (a major contributor to H+ buffering during high-intensity exercise), β-alanine is fast becoming a popular ergogenic aid to sports performance. There have been several recent qualitative review articles published on the topic, and here we present a preliminary quantitative review of the literature through a meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of the literature was employed to identify all studies suitable for inclusion in the analysis; strict exclusion criteria were also applied. Fifteen published manuscripts were included in the analysis, which reported the results of 57 measures within 23 exercise tests, using 18 supplementation regimes and a total of 360 participants [174, β-alanine supplementation group (BA) and 186, placebo supplementation group (Pla)]. BA improved (P=0.002) the outcome of exercise measures to a greater extent than Pla [median effect size (IQR): BA 0.374 (0.140-0.747), Pla 0.108 (-0.019 to 0.487)]. Some of that effect might be explained by the improvement (P=0.013) in exercise capacity with BA compared to Pla; no improvement was seen for exercise performance (P=0.204). In line with the purported mechanisms for an ergogenic effect of β-alanine supplementation, exercise lasting 60-240 s was improved (P=0.001) in BA compared to Pla, as was exercise of >240 s (P=0.046). In contrast, there was no benefit of β-alanine on exercise lasting <60 s (P=0.312). The median effect of β-alanine supplementation is a 2.85% (-0.37 to 10.49%) improvement in the outcome of an exercise measure, when a median total of 179 g of β-alanine is supplemented. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 122 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 20 | 16% |
| United Kingdom | 12 | 10% |
| Spain | 12 | 10% |
| Australia | 5 | 4% |
| Mexico | 4 | 3% |
| Canada | 4 | 3% |
| Sweden | 4 | 3% |
| Argentina | 3 | 2% |
| Brazil | 3 | 2% |
| Other | 11 | 9% |
| Unknown | 44 | 36% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 79 | 65% |
| Scientists | 22 | 18% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 20 | 16% |
| Unknown | 1 | <1% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 661 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | <1% |
| United Kingdom | 3 | <1% |
| Canada | 1 | <1% |
| Denmark | 1 | <1% |
| Spain | 1 | <1% |
| United States | 1 | <1% |
| Poland | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 648 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 137 | 21% |
| Student > Master | 123 | 19% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 62 | 9% |
| Researcher | 43 | 7% |
| Student > Postgraduate | 31 | 5% |
| Other | 109 | 16% |
| Unknown | 156 | 24% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Sports and Recreations | 193 | 29% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 73 | 11% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 72 | 11% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 56 | 8% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 27 | 4% |
| Other | 71 | 11% |
| Unknown | 169 | 26% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 254. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 10 March 2024.
All research outputs
#147,680
of 25,769,258 outputs
Outputs from Amino Acids
#7
of 1,628 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#644
of 255,126 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Amino Acids
#1
of 21 outputs
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So far Altmetric has tracked 1,628 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 7.9. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its peers.
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