LATEST RESEARCH (*requires Acrobat)

Muscle Science Roundup: Creatine Plus Beta-Alanine (Iron Man January 2007)

More Grow Power 2: Repping with Beta-Alanine (Iron Man Dec 2006)

Creatine and Beta-Alanine
(Iron Man Nov 2006)

More Grow Power 1: Repping with Beta-Alanine (Iron Man Nov 2006)

Beta-Alanine Protects the Liver (Amino Acids, 2006 Nov 9)
Effect of beta-alanine administration on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity. (College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.) Mice were supplemented with beta-alanine (3%) in drinking water for one week. beta-Alanine intake reduced hepatic taurine levels, but elevated cysteine levels significantly. Hepatotoxicity of CCl(4) in mice fed with beta-alanine was decreased as determined by changes in serum enzyme activities. Hepatic glutathione and taurine concentrations after CCl(4) challenge were increased markedly by beta-alanine intake. The enhanced availability of cysteine for synthesis of glutathione and/or taurine appears to account for the hepatoprotective effects of beta-alanine against CCl(4)-induced liver injury.

Creatine and Beta-alanine (Excerpt from ISSN Conference, Oct 2006)
Several new studies pertaining to creatine were presented at the 2006 meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, including the a study investigating the effects of combining creatine with beta-alanine, a new supplement that increases levels of L-carnosine, a dipeptide amino acid, in muscle.1 This preliminary study shows that creatine and beta-alanine appear to work together in promoting gains in muscle strength and a loss of bodyfat.

ISSN Conference at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas (Oct 2006)
The science of sports nutrition is an evolving discipline, with new information frequently superseding previously accepted scientific fact. While nutrition topics are discussed at medical conferences around the world, until a few years ago sports nutrition wasn't a major agenda item. To correct that notable gap, a group of scientists and teachers, all of whom shared an intense interest in the exchange and presentation of the most up-to-date research concerning sports nutrition, formed the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
What limits muscular gains?

Certainly, not training hard enough will prevent you from progressing at an acceptable rate. Not paying enough attention to diet will also inhibit rapid size and strength gains. On a more elemental level, however, muscle fatigue puts a major damper on muscle growth. The actual causes of muscle fatigue during training can vary, from a lack of sufficient carbs and calories to dehydration. The most familiar sign of impending fatigue during any particular set, however, is an intense burning sensation in the trained muscles.

The burn is caused by a buildup of lactic acid.

Although it’s the acid part, rather than the lactate portion, that is the true problem. If you could douse the fire that causes muscle flameout during a set, you’d be able to train harder and thus speed gains in size and strength. Creatine is considered one of the most effective food supplements. While it works mainly by increasing muscle energy stores, it also provides some muscle buffering. In short, it helps to soak up acid produced during hard training, acid that inhibits energy production in working muscle.

The primary muscle-buffering substance is called L-carnosine.

It’s a dipeptide, consisting of two amino acids—beta-alanine and histidine— bonded together. Several studies clearly show that the limiting factor for carnosine synthesis in muscle is beta-alanine.

Beta-alanine is a comparatively obscure nutrient and is one of the few known “beta” amino acids. Other amino acids are “alpha” amino acids and are found in the natural “L” configuration or the “D” configuration, which isn’t usable by the human body. Beta-alanine exists in several foods, mainly protein, and also forms part of the structure of the B-complex vitamin pantothenic acid. Beta-alanine is metabolized into acetic acid, better known as vinegar in its dilute form. To find out the facts about using beta-alanine, we interviewed John A. Wise, Ph.D., a co-author of most of the recent studies examining the athletic use of beta-alanine supplements. He is currently the chief science officer of Natural Alternatives International in San Marcos, California.

Click below to read the full interview with Dr. Wise. (requires Acrobat Reader)

Firefight for Firepower: Why beta-alanine is a true muscle-power intensi-fire (Aug 2006)

Bibliography:

Hoffman, J., et al. (2006). Effect of creatine and B-alanine supplementation on performance and endocrine
responses in strength/power athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 38:S126.

Rawson, E.S., et al. (2006). Creatine supplementation does not reduce muscle damage or enhancerecovery from resistence exercise. Med Sci Sports Exer. 38:S126.

Easton, C., et al. (2006). Effects of combined creatine and glycerol supplementation on physiological
responses during exercise in the heat. Med Sci Sports Exer. 38:S125.

To order Red Dragon, the beta-alanine muscle-power intensi-fire, call 1-800-447-0008 or click here.