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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03708185

Beta-alanine Supplementation and High-intensity Interval Training

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

School of Sport and Health Sciences

Exeter, Devon, EX4 4JA, United Kingdom

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Beta-alanine

Dietary Supplement

N/A: see arm description

Placebo

Dietary Supplement

N/A: see arm description

Primary outcomes

  1. 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

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. VO2max

    Time frame: 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.

  2. Substrate utilisation

    Time frame: 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).

  3. Muscle carnosine concentration

    Time frame: 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

  4. Muscle enzyme (citrate synthase, hexokinase, β-HAD, PFK) activity

    Time frame: 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

  5. Muscle buffering capacity

    Time frame: 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

  6. Muscle metabolites (AMP, ADP, ATP, Pi, IMP, PCr, Cr, lactate, pyruvate, NAD+/NADH, glucose, G6P, citrate)

    Time frame: 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

  7. Muscle gene expression

    Time frame: 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

  8. Plasma metabolites (NEFA, glucose, glycerol, lactate)

    Time frame: 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.

  9. Heart rate

    Time frame: 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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Exeter

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Does Beta-alanine Supplementation Augment the Skeletal Muscle Adaptive Response to 8 Weeks of High-intensity Interval Training

Acronym: BEAST

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2021
First posted
Oct 17, 2018
Registry last updated
Sep 30, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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