Beta-alanine Supplementation and High-intensity Interval Training

University of Exeter26 enrolled

Overview

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.

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

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy

Interventions

Beta-alanineDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

N/A: see arm description

PlaceboDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

N/A: see arm description

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 50 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

School of Sport and Health Sciences

Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

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.

Time frame: At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.

Secondary Outcomes

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.

Time frame: 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).

Time frame: 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

Time frame: 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

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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