Best Beta Alanine Supplement Review & Product Guide

Which is the best beta alanine supplement for improving physical performance? Of the more than 500 available beta-alanine products listed in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD), CarnoSyn beta alanine has undergone the most clinical scrutiny.

However, generic beta alanine supplements will exhibit the same effects, so long as you are buying your health supplements from a high quality source. There can be significant differences between supplements in terms of purity, potency and manufacturing standards.

Beta alanine is an amino acid that has been shown to rapidly increase intramuscular levels of a dipeptide called carnosine. This can improve athletic performance markers by buffering against one of the primary causes of muscle fatigue during intense workouts.

Beta alanine supplements are often used in pre-workout formulations together with creatine to enhance stamina and increase workout capacity. CarnoSyn, which is manufactured by NAI, also provides a Sustained Release formulation of beta alanine which has several advantages over generic supplements.

Beta Alanine

Bodybuilding Supplement

Body- building

Pre- Workout

Stamina

How It Works:

• Supports muscle growth & workout performance
• Improves athletic stamina & power output
• Increases muscle carnosine levels

Dosage:

Between 2 - 6 grams per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Beta Alanine Supplements Review

Beta alanine is a beta amino acid. Its IUPAC name is 3-aminopropanoic acid. As a “beta” amino acid, its molecular amino group is in the second (beta) position away from the carboxylate group. It is a nonessential amino acid; meaning it can be synthesized within the body of gained from foods.

Beta alanine is a constituent of not only carnosine, but also of anserine and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). In normal conditions, beta alanine is metabolized into acetic acid; the main non-water constituent of vinegar.

Beta alanine is not proteinogenic; meaning it is not used to manufacture proteins. It is the only beta amino acid which occurs naturally in the body.

As a dietary supplement beta alanine is used to increase muscle concentrations of carnosine. This compound is the rate-limiting factor in producing carnosine within muscle tissue.

Carnosine acts in muscle tissues to buffer against the effects of lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced in muscles during anaerobic exercise, resulting in an accumulation of hydrogen ions, which lowers the pH balance of muscle tissues.

Carnosine by neutralizing hydrogen ions that can cause muscle fatigue and the “burning” sensation when working out at peak intensity. Ingesting beta alanine supplements are the most effective way to increase muscle carnosine levels and combat premature fatigue.

Best Beta Alanine Supplements

Choosing the best beta alanine supplements to buy can be daunting, given the wide selection of products and limited information on product differentiation. Not all supplements that say “Beta Alanine” on the label are the same and not all supplement companies follow the FDA guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to ensure quality and purity.

CarnoSyn is a brand of beta alanine supplement that is widely recognized as being of good quality. It is manufactured by NAI, a certified producer of sports supplements that has been recognized by Health Canada, the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia and by NSF.

It is also the brand of beta-alanine that is most commonly used in clinical research trials. They produce an SR (Sustained Release) CarnoSyn supplement that has some advantages over generic products. This supplement is formulated to release this ingredient over a longer period of time, allowing for increased muscle retention of carnosine.

SR CarnoSyn also delivers a higher dosage of beta alanine per serving, while avoiding paresthesia, which is a side effects of high-dose beta alanine.

It may not be necessary to use SR CarnoSyn if you want the benefits of beta alanine supplementation. But if you prefer taking a single dose as opposed to taking multiple smaller doses per day, then this supplement may be the best for you.

Results of Beta Alanine Supplements

Beta alanine supplements have been researched in peer-reviewed human trials conducted by major universities. In the world of dietary supplements, this is rare in itself. Many supplement manufacturers report efficacy based only on animal or laboratory testing.

Research shows the following benefits of beta alanine supplements:

• Increases anaerobic and aerobic exercise endurance;
• Delays the onset of muscular fatigue;
• Increases total work capacities;
• Increases muscular strength;
• Increases power output;
• Increases muscle mass;

Beta alanine has been tested and proven effective for enhancing athletic performance in several different sports. Performance improvements have been reported in college football players, wrestlers, weightlifters, bodybuilders, cyclists, rowers, runners, sprinters and HIIT participants.

Beta Alanine Anti-Aging Effects

Beta alanine supplements are also used to improve physical functioning in the elderly as well. In one double-blind, randomized human trial, 9 men and 17 women between 55 and 92 years of age were monitored for 3 months. The subjects were randomly assigned into either a treatment group or a placebo group.

Twelve treatment group members were given three 800 mg doses of CarnoSyn beta alanine each day. Discontinuous cycle ergometry tests were administered to all subjects before and after the period of supplementation. These tests measured the subjects’ physical working capacities at the fatigue threshold (PWCFT).

Results from this study showed significant improvements between pre and post-supplementation PWCFT scores in treatment group members. The average score increased by more than 28%. No changes were noted in PWCFT scores in placebo subjects.

Other research also suggests that beta alanine supplementation may help elderly individuals to reduce instances of falling. Improving physical performance may help to prolong independence and increase quality of life.

How do Beta Alanine Supplements Work?

The primary biological role of beta alanine is to elevate levels of intramuscular carnosine. Muscle carnosine is known to buffer hydrogen protons (H+) which accumulate because of physical exertion.

The process of converting glucose to pyruvate is called glycolysis. This is the main metabolic process our bodies employ to generate energy. Hydrogen protons are created as byproducts of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) metabolism during glycolysis.

As H+ ion levels elevate, the pH levels in muscle tissues drop. When muscular acidosis develops, fatigue onsets. Strength and endurance are diminished until the H+ can be removed from the tissues. A “burning” sensation in muscles is a direct result of H+ accumulations.

The best beta alanine supplements help to increase carnosine inside the muscles. Carnosine buffers hydrogen protons and restores optimal pH to the tissues. This subsequently restores a given muscle’s capacities to contract and perform work.

Side Effects of Beta Alanine Supplements

Dietary supplements containing pure beta alanine are rated as possibly safe for short-term, appropriate oral usage.

The only side effect associated with routine beta alanine supplementation is temporary and harmless. It is called paresthesia and is marked by sensations of tingling, itching or burning on the skin.

It goes away in about an hour and is actually enjoyed by many users. The effect makes some users feel a psychological boost in knowing that the beta alanine is active and working inside them.

Paresthesia can be prevented by using the SR CarnoSyn supplement or by taking a smaller dosage of beta alanine powder or capsules at a time.

Always follow dosing instructions carefully on the beta alanine supplements you may use. The manufacturers of CarnoSyn recommends a loading phase of supplementation to achieve optimal intramuscular elevations of carnosine. They recommend taking two 1.6-gram doses daily for at least 4 weeks.

Studies involving young adults have used 6.4-gram doses for up to 10 weeks with no side effects (besides paresthesia). In elderly subjects above 55 years old, 2.4-gram daily doses have been used without adverse effects for ninety days consecutively.

If you have any serious medical condition(s), or take prescribed pharmaceuticals, then speak with your doctor about safety and benefits of beta alanine supplements before beginning to use these products.

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