Eight Weeks High-Dose Beta-Alanine Supplementation Does Not Improve a Single Bout of Short Maximal Exercise or Lower Serum Carnosine Levels in Male Well-Trained Basketball Players

Based on the research gap, the dosage and duration of beta-alanine (BA) supplementation on maximal exercise lasting less than 60 seconds still needs to be investigated. Serum carnosine (SCAR) levels can indicate the human body's adaptive responses to muscle carnosine efflux and serum carnosinase (CN1) activity which build and store intracellular carnosine. This study aimed to determine whether BA supplementation can enhance these adaptations to reduce SCAR levels, improve short-term, high-intensity exercise, and lower blood lactate (BL) levels in highly active male basketball players. Twenty-four basketball players (Mean for Age = 22.54, height = 184.56, weight = 80.81, BMI = 23.70, LBM = 40.59, BFP = 12.73) were randomized to consume beta-alanine (BA; 6 g/d) or placebo (PL; 6 g/d). Players' exercise performance was assessed using the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Additionally, SCAR and BL levels were assessed after blood sampling in both fasting and post-exercise states, before and after the intervention. BA supplementation had no significant effects on SCAR, peak power, mean power, fatigue, peak speed, and total work done. A significant drop in post-exercise BL levels was observed in BA compared to PL. This study demonstrated that 8 weeks of high-dose BA supplementation does not improve a single bout of short-time maximal exercise, and reduce serum carnosine levels, but it reduces post-exercise blood lactate levels in well-trained male basketball players.