Beta-alanine Supplementation and High-intensity Interval Training

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Beta-alanine

• Registration Number: NCT03708185
• Lead Sponsor: University of Exeter

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

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 Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-06-04
• Study First Submitted: 2018-06-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-10-11
• Study First Posted: 2018-10-17
• Primary Completion: 2019-12-20
• Study Completion: 2021-06-28
• Status Verified: 2021-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-09-29
• Last Update Posted: 2021-09-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

• Moderately trained (vo2max: 50 - 60 ml/kg/min).
• Females must be taking an oral contraceptive, or using a contraceptive implant.

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Exclusion Criteria

• A recent history of musculoskeletal injury
• Diagnosed cardiovascular or metabolic disease
• Regular use of beta-alanine supplements

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
HIIT + placebo	Placebo	Participants will ingest a placebo supplement containing no beta-alanine for a period of 12 weeks. During the last 8 weeks of that period, participants will take part in a structured program of high-intensity interval training.
HIIT + beta-alanine	Beta-alanine	Participants will ingest an active supplement containing beta-alanine for a period of 12 weeks. During the last 8 weeks of that period, participants will take part in a structured program of high-intensity interval training.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
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	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	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.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
VO2max	At weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 of study.	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.
Muscle carnosine concentration	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques
Muscle buffering capacity	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques
Heart rate	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study, and through whole training period (weeks 8-12)	Heart rate will be measured throughout with the use of a heart rate monitor.
Substrate utilisation	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	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).
Muscle gene expression	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques
Muscle enzyme (citrate synthase, hexokinase, β-HAD, PFK) activity	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques
Muscle metabolites (AMP, ADP, ATP, Pi, IMP, PCr, Cr, lactate, pyruvate, NAD+/NADH, glucose, G6P, citrate)	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	Using the Bergstrom muscle biopsy technique. Samples will be frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and will be later analysed using validated techniques
Plasma metabolites (NEFA, glucose, glycerol, lactate)	At weeks 0, 4 and 12 of study.	A cannula will be used to draw blood from subjects at several time points. Whole blood will be centrifuged immediately and its plasma split into aliquots and stored in a -80°C freezer for later analysis.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

School of Sport and Health Sciences; 🇬🇧 Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom