Interesting Read on Beta-Alanine.

[Optimum08]

Here (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1374757)


Opinions?

[Belial]

Started skeptical (especially reading boneheaded mistakes like "low acidity", when he really means "low pH"), but reviewing the literature so far seems to back it up.

Definitely merits some more investigation.

[the doc]

do you think the guys in the pictures got that big by using b-alanine alone or b-alanine + test/fina/deca combo

[sCaRz*Of*PaiN]

test/fina/deca combo+ calories

[Optimum08]

haha. doc im not a newbie here. i was just seeing what you guys thought about this new supplement touted as the "creatine for this generation". i know taking supplements won't get you looking like those guys i was purely talking about the science in that article.

[Krelian]

Started skeptical (especially reading boneheaded mistakes like "low acidity", when he really means "low pH"),

Not to mention:

"When beta-alanine enters the muscle cell, it becomes what we call the "rate limiting substrate" to carnosine synthesis. By rate limiting, we mean that without beta-alanine, carnosine does not get produced."

(My emphasis)

[Belial]

Yeah. Don't read his text too carefully. Just read the references.

(What the hell is this guy a PhD in? Sociology?)

[Belial]

Never mind. Found a link to his CV. http://hes.ou.edu/bios/stout.html

Why does he insult everyone's intelligence and over-simplify to the point of being wrong? Put the detail out there and let people figure it out on their own, or what your writing produces is a bunch of half-assed meathead chemists who spout off half-educated bull**** in a horrible game of internet telephone that results in thousands of messageboards being filled with idiotic drivel.

[Belial]

that wasn't decaf. ****.

[the doc]

haha. doc im not a newbie here. i was just seeing what you guys thought about this new supplement touted as the "creatine for this generation". i know taking supplements won't get you looking like those guys i was purely talking about the science in that article.

oh I know I was just making fun of t-mag. they always put in pics of super huge, super chemically enhanced dudes in their articles.

I think the information in the article does warrent a new look at b-alanine. It is damn cheap.

[the doc]

Never mind. Found a link to his CV. http://hes.ou.edu/bios/stout.html

Why does he insult everyone's intelligence and over-simplify to the point of being wrong? Put the detail out there and let people figure it out on their own, or what your writing produces is a bunch of half-assed meathead chemists who spout off half-educated bull**** in a horrible game of internet telephone that results in thousands of messageboards being filled with idiotic drivel.

i know what you are saying. It reminds me of that bonehead Paul Delia from AST... he puts a bunch of letters after his name to make him look smart but if you look into it his training is no more special than many others

this guy : He received a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Concordia University in 1989 and a masters and doctorate in Exercise Physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992 and 1995, respectively.

I wonder what his grade in general chemistry was. D?

[the doc]

another point:
Ventilatory (anaerobic) threshold is the point where lactic acid production exceeds its absorption, you feel a significant burn, and you can no longer maintain a high exercising intensity. It's a great measure of endurance and aerobic fitness.

what the hell is he talking about... lactate "absorption" vs burn? lactate "absorbtion" occurs in the liver. Lactate burn in a particular muscle is dependant on the rate of lactate production, metabolic dilation of vessels, and cardiac output. ventilatory threshold is the nonlinear ventilatory deviation where CO2 outflow is altered due to increased acidity of the blood (but can vary widely from person to person)

Furthermore it is not a "great measure of endurance and aerobic fitness". Studies have demonstrated that different conditions, including training status and carbohydrate nutritional supplementation, can cause thresholds in the same individual to differ substantially (Neary, P.J., MacDougall, J.D., Bachus, R., & Wenger, H.A. 1985. The relationship between lactate and ventilatory thresholds: coincidental or cause and effect? European Journal of Applied Physiology, 54 (1), 104-108.)

[the doc]

some recent research by the author

Effect of creatine and beta-alanine supplementation on performance and endocrine responses in strength/power athletes.
Hoffman J - Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab - 01-AUG-2006; 16(4): 430-46
From NIH/NLM MEDLINE

NLM Citation ID:
17136944 (PubMed)

Full Source Title:
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Publication Type:
Journal Article

Language:
English

Author Affiliation:
Dept. of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ 08628, USA.

Authors:
Hoffman J; Ratamess N; Kang J; Mangine G; Faigenbaum A; Stout J

Abstract:
The effects of creatine and creatine plus beta-alanine on strength, power, body composition, and endocrine changes were examined during a 10-wk resistance training program in collegiate football players. Thirty-three male subjects were randomly assigned to either a placebo (P), creatine (C), or creatine plus beta-alanine (CA) group. During each testing session subjects were assessed for strength (maximum bench press and squat), power (Wingate anaerobic power test, 20-jump test), and body composition. Resting blood samples were analyzed for total testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, IGF-1, and sex hormone binding globulin. Changes in lean body mass and percent body fat were greater (P < 0.05) in CA compared to C or P. Significantly greater strength improvements were seen in CA and C compared to P. Resting testosterone concentrations were elevated in C, however, no other significant endocrine changes were noted. Results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of creatine and creatine plus beta-alanine on strength performance. Creatine plus beta-alanine supplementation appeared to have the greatest effect on lean tissue accruement and body fat composition.

[the doc]

it does have a high bioavailability

The absorption of orally supplied beta-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis.
Harris RC - Amino Acids - 01-MAY-2006; 30(3): 279-89
From NIH/NLM MEDLINE

NLM Citation ID:
16554972 (PubMed)

Full Source Title:
Amino Acids

Publication Type:
Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language:
English

Author Affiliation:
School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, University College Chichester, West Sussex, Chichester, UK. r.harris@ucc.ac.uk

Authors:
Harris RC; Tallon MJ; Dunnett M; Boobis L; Coakley J; Kim HJ; Fallowfield JL; Hill CA; Sale C; Wise JA

Abstract:
Beta-alanine in blood-plasma when administered as A) histidine dipeptides (equivalent to 40 mg . kg(-1) bwt of beta-alanine) in chicken broth, or B) 10, C) 20 and D) 40 mg . kg(-1) bwt beta-alanine (CarnoSyn, NAI, USA), peaked at 428 +/- SE 66, 47 +/- 13, 374 +/- 68 and 833 +/- 43 microM. Concentrations regained baseline at 2 h. Carnosine was not detected in plasma with A) although traces of this and anserine were found in urine. Loss of beta-alanine in urine with B) to D) was <5%. Plasma taurine was increased by beta-alanine ingestion but this did not result in any increased loss via urine. Pharmacodynamics were further investigated with 3 x B) per day given for 15 d. Dietary supplementation with I) 3.2 and II) 6.4 g . d(-1) beta-alanine (as multiple doses of 400 or 800 mg) or III) L-carnosine (isomolar to II) for 4 w resulted in significant increases in muscle carnosine estimated at 42.1, 64.2 and 65.8%.

[the doc]

while the article is not the greatest, recent studies that i posted above to support the idea that b-alanine is a useful supplement.

I WOULD NOT purchase their overpriced supp that he plugs in the article but would rather purchase it for pennies/dose from 1fast400/bulk nutrition (no i am not affiliated with them)

[galileo]

oh I know I was just making fun of t-mag. they always put in pics of super huge, super chemically enhanced dudes in their articles.

I think the information in the article does warrent a new look at b-alanine. It is damn cheap.

Certainly, this man is not on drugs:

http://www.t-nation.com/img/photos/06-199-diet/image003.jpg


(If Lee's not, he should be...perhaps an SSRI)

[Davidelmo]

doc, I love you!

[malkore]

t-nation writers aren't always the best, but I will say they tend to only produce supplements that actually work (maybe not the tribex/tribulus product, but everything else they've sold was legit).