[King Kabuki]

Alright, turns out I left my most compelling literature on this subject at work (I read when bored out of my mind), but I recall enough to whip up something quick.

As any of you should know who researched this product properly, beta-alinine is an amino constituent of carnosine. Turns out carnosine is a very very important amino acid. For instance:

Free Radical Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.

Glycation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by reactive aldehydes, such as glycolaldehyde, can result in the cellular accumulation of cholesterol in macro****es. In this study, it is shown that carnosine, or its constituent amino acids beta-alanine and l-histidine, can inhibit the modification of LDL by glycolaldehyde when present at equimolar concentrations to the modifying agent. This protective effect was accompanied by inhibition of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester accumulation in human monocyte-derived macro****es incubated with the glycated LDL. Thus, carnosine and its constituent amino acids may have therapeutic potential in preventing diabetes-induced atherosclerosis.

So, generally beta-alinine shows some healthful benefits. BUT, does it benefit performance? Well, carnosine levels are directly related to fatigue in muscles. The more carnosine is depleted, the faster you fatigue. Stop the depletion of muscle carnotine, and you significantly slow the fatiguing of muscles. Need proof? Well here ya go:

Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, U.S.A..

This study examined the effects of 28 days of beta-alanine supplementation on the physical working capacity at fatigue threshold (PWC(FT)), ventilatory threshold (VT), maximal oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]O(2-MAX)), and time-to-exhaustion (TTE) in women. Twenty-two women (age +/- SD 27.4 +/- 6.1 yrs) participated and were randomly assigned to either the beta-alanine (CarnoSyntrade mark) or Placebo (PL) group. Before (pre) and after (post) the supplementation period, participants performed a continuous, incremental cycle ergometry test to exhaustion to determine the PWC(FT), VT, [Formula: see text]O(2-MAX), and TTE. There was a 13.9, 12.6 and 2.5% increase (p < 0.05) in VT, PWC(FT), and TTE, respectively, for the beta-alanine group, with no changes in the PL (p > 0.05). There were no changes for [Formula: see text]O(2-MAX) (p > 0.05) in either group. Results of this study indicate that beta-alanine supplementation delays the onset of neuromuscular fatigue (PWC(FT)) and the ventilatory threshold (VT) at submaximal workloads, and increase in TTE during maximal cycle ergometry performance. However, beta-alanine supplementation did not affect maximal aerobic power ([Formula: see text]O(2-MAX)). In conclusion, beta-alanine supplementation appears to improve submaximal cycle ergometry performance and TTE in young women, perhaps as a result of an increased buffering capacity due to elevated muscle carnosine concentrations.

But wait, there's more:

School of Sports, Exercise & Health Sciences, University of Chichester, Chichester, U.K..

Muscle carnosine synthesis is limited by the availability of beta-alanine. Thirteen male subjects were supplemented with beta-alanine (CarnoSyntrade mark) for 4 wks, 8 of these for 10 wks. A biopsy of the vastus lateralis was obtained from 6 of the 8 at 0, 4 and 10 wks. Subjects undertook a cycle capacity test to determine total work done (TWD) at 110% (CCT(110%)) of their maximum power (W(max)). Twelve matched subjects received a placebo. Eleven of these completed the CCT(110%) at 0 and 4 wks, and 8, 10 wks. Muscle biopsies were obtained from 5 of the 8 and one additional subject. Muscle carnosine was significantly increased by +58.8% and +80.1% after 4 and 10 wks beta-alanine supplementation. Carnosine, initially 1.71 times higher in type IIa fibres, increased equally in both type I and IIa fibres. No increase was seen in control subjects. Taurine was unchanged by 10 wks of supplementation. 4 wks beta-alanine supplementation resulted in a significant increase in TWD (+13.0%); with a further +3.2% increase at 10 wks. TWD was unchanged at 4 and 10 wks in the control subjects. The increase in TWD with supplementation followed the increase in muscle carnosine.

But does it work when taken orally? Well here's the answer to that:

School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, University College Chichester, West Sussex, Chichester, UK.

Dietary supplementation with I) 3.2 and II) 6.4 g . d(-1) beta-alanine (as multiple doses of 400 or 800 mg) or III) L-carnosine (isomolar to II) for 4 w resulted in significant increases in muscle carnosine estimated at 42.1, 64.2 and 65.8%.

But Beta-alinine need not replace creatine. The two can work together:

Dept. of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ 08628, USA.

The effects of creatine and creatine plus beta-alanine on strength, power, body composition, and endocrine changes were examined during a 10-wk resistance training program in collegiate football players. Thirty-three male subjects were randomly assigned to either a placebo (P), creatine (C), or creatine plus beta-alanine (CA) group. During each testing session subjects were assessed for strength (maximum bench press and squat), power (Wingate anaerobic power test, 20-jump test), and body composition. Resting blood samples were analyzed for total testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, IGF-1, and sex hormone binding globulin. Changes in lean body mass and percent body fat were greater (P < 0.05) in CA compared to C or P. Significantly greater strength improvements were seen in CA and C compared to P. Resting testosterone concentrations were elevated in C, however, no other significant endocrine changes were noted. Results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of creatine and creatine plus beta-alanine on strength performance. Creatine plus beta-alanine supplementation appeared to have the greatest effect on lean tissue accruement and body fat composition.

Now, I'll leave you guys with that for the moment until I can get to the more detailed info I have. Because there's some studies that show where beta-alinine out-performed creatine and why. The magic to BA is not mega-dosing though, as much as it is carb-loading.

Carb-loading it turns out is a magical thing. I've been saying I was going to make a thread on something pretty special recently, it's carb-loading. I'll do it sooner or later but basically it goes like this:

Take any amino that don't do shit on it's own, stick it with carbs, and magic happens. That's not to be said for all aminos, but most of them.