Beta-alanine Supplementation and CrossFit Performance

University of Saskatchewan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exercise-Induced Lactic Acidemia

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin; Dietary Supplement: Beta-alanine

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05772988

2022_23_02

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will randomize CrossFit participants to receive beta-alanine or placebo supplementation for 3 weeks. The study will be double-blind. Performance on the "Fran" test will be completed at baseline and after the 3 week intervention. Respiratory exchange ratio will also be assessed during the performance test at baseline and after 3 weeks.

Full description

Beta-alanine is a nutritional supplement often consumed by people involved in high-intensity sports that involve substantial lactic acidosis. If consumed on a regular basis, it improves muscle buffering capacity and exercise performance during high-intensity moderate-duration events. CrossFit involves competitions that are high in intensity and moderate duration and many elite CrossFit athletes have reported taking beta-alanine as a supplement. It has never however been evaluated in a research study for its affect on CrossFit performance. The purpose of the study is therefore to assess the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on CrossFit performance. A maximum of 30 CrossFit participants will participate in this randomized double-blind parallel groups study. Participants will be randomized to receive 6.4 g/d beta-alanine or maltodextrin placebo for 3 weeks. At baseline and after the intervention, participants will complete a "Fran" test, which involves performing sets of repeated dumbbell thrusters alternating with chin-ups. The performance measure is the time to complete the test. During the test, respiratory exchange ratio will be assessed to indirectly assess acidosis.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Minimum of one year of CrossFit experience and doing CrossFit training at least twice a week

Exclusion criteria

• Having consumed beta-alanine in the past six months
• Having changed the dose of any other nutritional supplement within the past month
• Having suffered a major physical injury in the past six months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

---

12 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Beta-alanine

Experimental group

Description:

Beta-alanine to be given for three weeks

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Beta-alanine

Maltodextrin

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo to be given for three weeks

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin