Effects of Beta-alanine Supplementation on Body Composition: a GRADE-assessed Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal J Int Soc Sports Nutr

Date 2022 Jul 11

PMID 35813845

Authors

Damoon Ashtary-Larky

Reza Bagheri

Matin Ghanavati

Omid Asbaghi

Alexei Wong

Jeffrey R Stout

Katsuhiko Suzuki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Previous studies have suggested that beta-alanine supplementation may benefit exercise performance, but current evidence regarding its effects on body composition remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition indices.

Methods: Online databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, were searched up to April 2021 to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which examined the effect of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition indices. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model. The I index was used to assess the heterogeneity of RCTs.

Results: Among the initial 1413 studies that were identified from electronic databases search, 20 studies involving 492 participants were eligible. Pooled effect size from 20 studies indicated that beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on body mass (WMD: -0.15 kg; 95% CI: -0.78 to 0.47; = 0.631, I = 0.0%, = 0.998), fat mass (FM) (WMD: -0.24 kg; 95% CI: -1.16 to 0.68; = 0.612, I = 0.0%, = 0.969), body fat percentage (BFP) (WMD: -0.06%; 95% CI: -0.53 to 0.40; = 0.782, I = 0.0%, = 0.936), and fat-free mass (FFM) (WMD: 0.05 kg; 95% CI: -0.71 to 0.82; = 0.889, I = 0.0%, = 0.912). Subgroup analyses based on exercise type (resistance training [RT], endurance training [ET], and combined training [CT]), study duration (<8 and ≥8 weeks), and beta-alanine dosage (<6 and ≥6 g/d) demonstrated similar results. Certainty of evidence across outcomes ranged from low to moderate.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis study suggests that beta-alanine supplementation is unlikely to improve body composition indices regardless of supplementation dosage and its combination with exercise training. No studies have examined the effect of beta-alanine combined with both diet and exercise on body composition changes as the primary variable. Therefore, future studies examining the effect of the combination of beta-alanine supplementation with a hypocaloric diet and exercise programs are warranted.

Citing Articles

The Effect of Carnosine Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health in Adults with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Saadati S, Jansons P, Scott D, de Courten M, Mousa A, Feehan J Nutrients. 2025; 16(24.

PMID: 39770949 PMC: 11677094. DOI: 10.3390/nu16244328.

Reposition: Focalizing β-Alanine Metabolism and the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Its Metabolite Based on Multi-Omics Datasets.

Luo W, Zhang H, Zhang H, Xu Y, Liu X, Xu S Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(19).

PMID: 39408583 PMC: 11476852. DOI: 10.3390/ijms251910252.

The Top 5 Can't-Miss Sport Supplements.

Antonio J, Pereira F, Curtis J, Rojas J, Evans C Nutrients. 2024; 16(19).

PMID: 39408214 PMC: 11479151. DOI: 10.3390/nu16193247.

References

Artioli G, Gualano B, Smith A, Stout J, Lancha Jr A . Role of beta-alanine supplementation on muscle carnosine and exercise performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010; 42(6):1162-73. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181c74e38. View

Smith A, Stout J, Kendall K, Fukuda D, Cramer J . Exercise-induced oxidative stress: the effects of β-alanine supplementation in women. Amino Acids. 2011; 43(1):77-90. DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-1158-x. View

Asbaghi O, Khosroshahi M, Kashkooli S, Abbasnezhad A . Effect of Calcium‑Vitamin D Co‑Supplementation on Insulin, Insulin Sensitivity, and Glycemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Horm Metab Res. 2019; 51(5):288-295. DOI: 10.1055/a-0887-0205. View

Quesnele J, Laframboise M, Wong J, Kim P, Wells G . The effects of beta-alanine supplementation on performance: a systematic review of the literature. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2013; 24(1):14-27. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0007. View

Pourabbas M, Bagheri R, Moghadam B, Willoughby D, Candow D, Elliott B . Strategic Ingestion of High-Protein Dairy Milk during a Resistance Training Program Increases Lean Mass, Strength, and Power in Trained Young Males. Nutrients. 2021; 13(3). PMC: 7999866. DOI: 10.3390/nu13030948. View

Sale C, Hill C, Ponte J, Harris R . β-alanine supplementation improves isometric endurance of the knee extensor muscles. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012; 9(1):26. PMC: 3420321. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-9-26. View

Asbaghi O, Sadeghian M, Rahmani S, Mardani M, Khodadost M, Maleki V . The effect of green coffee extract supplementation on anthropometric measures in adults: A comprehensive systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2020; 51:102424. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102424. View

Gross M, Bieri K, Hoppeler H, Norman B, Vogt M . Beta-alanine supplementation improves jumping power and affects severe-intensity performance in professional alpine skiers. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2014; 24(6):665-73. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0253. View

Higgins J, Thompson S, Deeks J, Altman D . Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ. 2003; 327(7414):557-60. PMC: 192859. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557. View

10.

Smith A, Walter A, Graef J, Kendall K, Moon J, Lockwood C . Effects of beta-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on endurance performance and body composition in men; a double-blind trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2009; 6:5. PMC: 2649036. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-6-5. View

11.

Stout J, Graves B, Smith A, Hartman M, Cramer J, Beck T . The effect of beta-alanine supplementation on neuromuscular fatigue in elderly (55-92 Years): a double-blind randomized study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2008; 5:21. PMC: 2585553. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-5-21. View

12.

DerSimonian R, Laird N . Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Control Clin Trials. 1986; 7(3):177-88. DOI: 10.1016/0197-2456(86)90046-2. View

13.

Deldicque L, Theisen D, Bertrand L, Hespel P, Hue L, Francaux M . Creatine enhances differentiation of myogenic C2C12 cells by activating both p38 and Akt/PKB pathways. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2007; 293(4):C1263-71. DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00162.2007. View

14.

Wang R, Fukuda D, Hoffman J, LA Monica M, Starling T, Stout J . Distinct Effects of Repeated-Sprint Training in Normobaric Hypoxia and β-Alanine Supplementation. J Am Coll Nutr. 2018; 38(2):149-161. DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2018.1475269. View

15.

Higgins J, Thompson S . Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Stat Med. 2002; 21(11):1539-58. DOI: 10.1002/sim.1186. View

16.

Sale C, Saunders B, Harris R . Effect of beta-alanine supplementation on muscle carnosine concentrations and exercise performance. Amino Acids. 2010; 39(2):321-33. DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0443-4. View

17.

Haidari F, Asadi M, Mohammadi-asl J, Ahmadi-Angali K . Effect of weight-loss diet combined with taurine supplementation on body composition and some biochemical markers in obese women: a randomized clinical trial. Amino Acids. 2020; 52(8):1115-1124. DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02876-7. View

18.

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman D . Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009; 6(7):e1000097. PMC: 2707599. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097. View

19.

Stout J, Cramer J, Zoeller R, Torok D, Costa P, Hoffman J . Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on the onset of neuromuscular fatigue and ventilatory threshold in women. Amino Acids. 2006; 32(3):381-6. DOI: 10.1007/s00726-006-0474-z. View

20.

Dutka T, Lamboley C, McKenna M, Murphy R, Lamb G . Effects of carnosine on contractile apparatus Ca²⁺ sensitivity and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ release in human skeletal muscle fibers. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2011; 112(5):728-36. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01331.2011. View