Bodybuilders and endurance athletes often buy beta alanine capsules and powders to reduce muscle fatigue and enhance stamina. Beta alanine (BA) is a nonessential beta-amino acid.
The body uses BA to synthesize a dipeptide called carnosine. Carnosine helps to buffer muscles against the lactic acid that is produced during anaerobic metabolism. By reducing intramuscular concentrations of hydrogen protons, carnosine helps to maintain optimal pH levels.
Research shows that increased carnosine levels inside type 2 muscle fibers decrease fatigue and may increase time-to-exhaustion during intense workouts. Supplementing the diet with BA may help with boosting muscular endurance – and improving certain other markers of physical performance.
Bodybuilders, football players, runners, cyclists and other athletes buy beta alanine capsules to gain competitive advantages because this supplement is more bioavailable when taken orally compared to carnosine.



- Supports muscle growth & workout performance
- Improves athletic stamina & power output
- Increases muscle carnosine levels
Why Buy Beta Alanine Capsules?
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According to the Natural Medicines database, people buy beta alanine capsules, powders and tablets to:
- Improve athletic performance, especially in the 60-240 second range;
- Increase exercise capacity;
- Build lean muscle mass;
- Improve the physical performance of elderly users;
Usage of beta alanine supplements has risen sharply in recent years, and continues to increase. Human trials have shown that BA helps to improve performance on several levels; including improving muscular endurance, anaerobic running capacity, lean mass, fat mass, fatigue, training volume and VO2max.
Aside from its use for athletic performance enhancement, beta alanine is believed to possess antioxidant, antiaging and certain other health-boosting properties. Human trials are ongoing to discern all of its roles in the body.
Buying Beta Alanine Capsules vs. Powder
Beta Alanine is available in both a bulk powder form or in capsules and tablets. Buying beta alanine capsules vs. powders is a matter of personal preference.
Capsules are easily transported; making it simple to have them on hand for scheduled supplementation. Powders provide control over dosage amounts, are generally cheaper and are preferred by those who have difficulties swallowing pills or capsules.
Beta alanine has been rated as possibly safe for short-term, oral usage. Long-term usage of BA has not been studied.
Reported safety data states that 6.4-gram doses have been used in younger adults for ten weeks with no side effects caused. In those over 54, 2.4-gram doses have been used safely for 90 days.
Not enough is known about beta alanine effects to determine their safety for pregnant or nursing women. Beta alanine is not recommended for children.
Side Effects of Beta Alanine Capsules
A 2015 beta alanine review reported that there is only one side effect associated with proper oral beta alanine administration. It is a temporary condition called paresthesia. It is marked by itching, tingling, burning, crawling or otherwise sensitized skin. Hands, feet, face, arms, legs and other areas may be affected.
Many people call this type of paresthesia “pins and needles”. It can be caused by taking too great an amount of beta alanine at once.
When it does occur, it almost always goes away, on its own, within 1-1½ hours. If you experience paresthesia that doesn’t go away after two hours or more, contact your doctor for advice.
Chronic paresthesia can result from certain conditions which affect the nerves. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome commonly causes feeling of numbness and itching in those affected. Chronic paresthesia is not associated with using beta alanine capsules, tablets or powders.
Some express concerns about taurine deficiencies being caused by beta alanine supplementation. Because beta alanine and taurine share the same transportation system to travel throughout the body, in theory they could compete for uptake. No research supports this currently and no taurine deficiencies have been reported due to BA usage.
Beta Alanine Dosage Recommendations
For adults wishing to improve exercise performance, incremental dosing schedules have been used.
In some studies, 2 grams of beta alanine powder were taken for the first two weeks. 3 grams daily were taken for the next two weeks. Then, 4 grams were taken daily for the remainder of 8-week supplementation cycles.
Beta alanine capsules have been used to increase muscular endurance and training volume, and to reduce fatigue. Doses up to 4.8 grams were taken daily for one month with positive effects in these areas.
CarnoSyn, a specific beta alanine supplement, has been shown to delay the onset of neuromuscular fatigue in women cyclists. Incremental dosing over 28 days also increased TTE (time to exhaustion) and expanded ventilatory threshold measurements.
Strength training athletes buy beta alanine capsules and powders during periods of intense training. BA should be used for at least 2 weeks before expecting benefits.
Usage should be limited to 10 weeks before cycling off temporarily. No human studies have explored the long-term effects of beta alanine administration.
Summary
Adding a beta alanine supplement to your diet can help to elevate carnosine levels inside your muscles. This has been shown to cause several improvements associated with physical performance. Follow dosing instructions closely. Many users begin at half the recommended dosage and then work up slowly to the full amount.
If you have serious pre-existing health conditions, then speak with a doctor about safety and benefits before you buy beta alanine capsule, tablet or powder supplements.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment