- Boosts Muscular Anaerobic Endurance
- Increase Exercise Capacity so You Can Train Harder & Longer
- Boost Explosive Muscular Strength & Power Output.
- Increases Aerobic Endurance
- Increases Muscle Mass
What is Beta-Alanine and where
does it come from?
Beta-Alanine is a non-essential amino acid found naturally in both foods
such as chicken, beef, pork, fish and it naturally occurs in the body. When
taken orally, it provides the types of effects that excite scientists and make
bodybuilders and other athlete's salivate. In reality, it makes anyone who takes
there training seriously start to drool
When beta-alanine enters the muscle cell, it becomes what we call the
"rate limiting substrate" to carnosine synthesis. By rate limiting, we
mean that without beta-alanine, carnosine does not get produced.
Carnosine was discovered in Russia in 1900, but it wasn’t until over 50
years later that the first research on carnosine and its effects on
muscle buffering where published. Recently (2003) researchers have been
studying Beta-Alanine examining its effects on exercise performance and
lean muscle mass. Carnosine on the other hand helps stabilize muscular
pH by soaking up hydrogen ions (H+) that are released at an accelerated
rate during exercise. Our bodies work to keep our pH in balance by
utilizing various buffering systems. Buffers largely work by soaking up
H+ to maintain optimal pH balance, which we need to function most
effectively. As mentioned above, our muscles function best in a
specific pH range. When pH drops below that range, so does muscular
performance. By helping to keep us in a more optimal pH range, our
muscles can continue to contract forcibly for a longer time.
What
does Beta-Alanine do and what scientific studies give evidence to
support this?
Much of Beta-Alanine’s effects come through boosting the
synthesis of an intramuscular dipeptide (two amino acids) called
carnosine. Carnosine is made up of two amino acids, beta-alanine and
histidine, and is a powerful intracellular buffer. Carnosine is found
in both type 1 and type 2 muscle fibers, though significantly in higher
concentrations in type 2 fibers (the fibers we primarily use in high
intensity strength workouts and which are most responsive to growth).
To function effectively, muscle cells rely on buffers like carnosine to
avoid becoming acidic (low pH) during exercise. If you want your
muscles to remain strong and maintain powerful contractions, they need
to be in an optimal pH range. If they don’t and the pH drops below that
optimal level, you have significantly less strength and fatigue more
quickly.
You know this is happening when you feel that familiar burn in your
muscles or even when you’re lifting heavy and reach muscular failure.
Muscle pH has dropped and it’s largely a result of an increase in
hydrogen ions (H+) which build up when you break down the high energy
compound ATP during exercise. Wouldn’t it be nice to knock out a few
more reps? If you had more carnosine in your muscles, you would.
Without it, your energy and endurance decline rapidly and your strength
suffers. The breakdown of ATP and the subsequent rise in H+
concentrations occurs in our all of our energy systems but is most
prevalent in an energy system called glycolysis which also produces
lactic acid. Lactic acid releases H+ ions, contributing further to the
pool of H+ that’s filling your muscles from the breakdown of ATP. With
the presence of H+ pH drops fast as does muscular performance.
Beta-Alanine efficacy is backed by major university, peer-reviewed
studies performed on humans and not animals which other products
typically base there claims on. The science behind Beta-Alanine is
simple, it makes sense and it works.
While Beta-Alanine is largely responsible for the majority of the
performance benefits, there are a few other ingredients that may
enhance Beta-Alanine, or be enhanced by Beta-Alanine as well as boost a
power antioxidant called glutathione that recent research shows may
fight cellular fatigue. Some of these supportive ingredients act as
direct precursors to the powerful antioxidant, glutathione and some
work to support optimal carnosine levels.
- N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC): increases glutathione levels inside
the cell which is a power antioxidant that fights cellular fatigue.
Interestingly Beta-Alanine has now been shown to increase the synthesis
of glutathione by increasing the availability of its precursor
cysteine. Beta-Alanine and NAC work perfectly together.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E has been shown to increase carnosine levels
more than carnosine alone. Carnosine has been shown to increases
Vitamin E antioxidant ability. These two operate hand in hand.
- Alpha-Lipoic-Acid: Finalizing this HIGHLY synergistic formula,
alpha-lipoic-acid is utilized as a highly versatile antioxidant that
boosts other antioxidants like Vitamin E and Glutathione.
Who
needs Beta-Alanine and how much should be taken? Are there any side
effects or symptoms of deficiency?You can conclude from the facts given that beta alanine might be
one of the most versatile amino acid supplement discovered — whether
you're an endurance athlete, bodybuilder, powerlifter, or just someone
who wants to get bigger, stronger or leaner.
Remember, it's a simple pathway for success: H+ increases with all
types of activity, shutting off muscle contraction.
With beta-alanine we can absorb it, and can literally become "better"
at every one of those activities. We can be stronger, we can run
faster, we can run longer. We can lift heavier weights for more reps,
we can be bigger and leaner. I think the greatest attribute of
beta-alanine is that it will benefit all types of athletes — not just
bodybuilders and fitness competitors.
Beta-Alanine benefits typically occur in as little as two weeks,
although some individuals will notice benefits within one week. As
carnosine levels increase, the benefits will follow. The most dramatic
results are generally experienced within the 3-4 week range but they
don’t stop there. Recent research is now showing carnosine levels
continue to increase for a minimum of 12 weeks which is why we
recommend staying on Beta-Alanine for at least three months to optimize
your carnosine levels. A practical dose of Beta-Alanine should not
exceed 10mg/kg per dose which is about 800mg for a guy.
Immediate
benefits: Many users experience intense vasodilatation/pumps
from the very first dose of Beta-Alanine. Because Beta-Alanine
increases carnosine and carnosine is a powerful precursor in generating
nitric oxide synthase (a group of enzymes necessary for making the
powerful vasodilator nitric oxide), this is an added, immediate benefit
of Beta-Alanine.
Dose:
Suggested Dose is between 3-6g a day.
Side
Effects
As far as any side effects or symptoms of deficiency some people
may notice a tingling sensation on the skin in the first few weeks
directly after ingestion that lasts about an hour. Eventually this
subsides after a few weeks of supplementation. It is caused by how Beta
Alanine binds to nerve receptors. It is not felt by everyone, so it is
not a sign of it working or not.