How To Boost Your HIIT With Beta-Alanine

Learn Why Beta-Alanine Boosts HIIT

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) covers a wide range of cardio exercise regimes and is a popular way to work-out due to its multitude of benefits. HIIT can increase resting metabolism, elevate fat burning, and enhance anaerobic and aerobic fitness.

More people are turning to HIIT because they are able to achieve better fitness results faster. However, to take advantage of the maximum benefits of HIIT, more athletes are supplementing with beta-alanine, and with good reason.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid and highly concentrated inside the muscle tissue.

The body is able to produce its own beta-alanine. However, a diet rich in animal proteins or supplements effectively increases these levels further. Anyone wanting to get a fitness edge and accelerate muscle building through HIIT can significantly benefit from beta-alanine supplementation.

The Science Behind Beta-Alanine

During exercise beta-alanine buffers muscle pH to reduce fatigue. This amino acid is the precursor to carnosine through rate limitation. The more beta-alanine available, the more carnosine the body’s muscle cells are able to manufacture.

Carnosine is important when working-out because it controls lactic acid levels. HIIT is based on high-frequency muscular contractions, causing the body to accumulate high levels of hydrogen ions. This process causes the muscles to become more acidic as pH levels decrease.

Low pH levels adversely affect muscle performance and lead to fatigue¹.  Carnosine buffers muscle pH by absorbing the excess hydrogen ions that are released during HIIT. This helps to reduce the stress on the muscles. As well as boosting intra-muscular pH, carnosine provides antioxidant benefits. It stops protein glycation and can improve exercise output by increasing excitation-contraction coupling².

Researchers have found that athletes with naturally high carnosine levels in their muscles are able to exercise more effectively and this can lead to better muscular gain, power and strength. Clinical studies assessing muscle biopsies have found that beta-alanine can elevate carnosine levels from 42-80% depending on the dosing levels and duration³.

Carnosine Vs. Beta-Alanine Supplementation

Although it is carnosine that helps to improve muscle performance and recovery, this doesn’t mean that supplementation with this amino acid is effective. Supplementing with beta-alanine is more effective compared with carnosine. This is because the body will eliminate or breakdown carnosine into histidine or beta-alanine when it is ingested. An insufficient source of beta-alanine, it is more efficient to elevate carnosine levels through supplementation with beta-alanine.

What The Research Shows

Many studies have confirmed that HIIT can be enhanced by beta-alanine supplementation through improving anaerobic performance, power output, lean muscle mass, and muscular strength⁴, ⁵, ⁶. Side effects of beta-alanine supplementation seem to be minimal, with a general consensus that this is a safe nutritional supplement⁷.

Taking Beta-Alanine with Creatine

Many amino acids work in synergy, with the positive effects of each compound enhanced when consumed together. This is apparent when combining creatine and beta-alanine. Ingested together, these compounds seem to delay the onset of muscular fatigue better than taking creatine or beta-alanine independently⁸.

For athletes participating in HIIT the combination of beta-alanine and creatine can assist to increase work capacity and lengthen the time to fatigue. Consequently, many pre-workout supplement products also include a blend of beta-alanine and creatine.

A study published in 2006 investigated the effects beta-alanine (3.2 g/day) plus creatine (10.5 g/day) on power, strength, endocrine function, and body composition in American football players⁹. The participants took part in a 10 week resistance training program incorporating the new supplement regime. Hoffman and colleagues found that beta-alanine together with creatine was effective for enhancing strength performance and increasing lean muscle mass.

Therefore, creatine together with Beta-Alanine Boosts HIIT.

Natural Beta-Alanine Sources

Very little free-form beta-alanine is available from food sources. The body produces it own Beta-Alanine naturally by breaking down dipeptides such as balenine, anserine and carnosine. These compounds come from proteins such as pork, beef, tuna and venison. Muscle carnosine levels are generally much lower in people following vegetarian diets.

To boost carnosine concentrations, athletes participating in HIIT generally take supplements. They often combine them with creatine, BCAAs and other amino acids known for improving power, strength and endurance.

Dosage – How Much Beta-Alanine?

The optimal amount of beta-alanine supplementation for HIIT is debatable and the literature recommends differing amounts. The standard daily dose is 2-5g. However, many athletes take much larger doses.

It’s important to note that taking large doses of this amino acid can cause pricking, tingling, or numbness sensations on the skin, known as parenthesis. However, with more frequent use, this sensation often reduces in severity¹⁰. To avoid parenthesis, some athletes prefer using time-release capsules.

Should You Take Beta-Alanine For HIIT?

Decisions about fitness must always consider what is healthy for the body. They types of training regimes, sleeping patterns, diet and supplements are all important factors. It’s important to know that the foods you are consuming are safe and will support your training schedule without causing adverse side effects.

Beta-alanine supplementation is a relatively new area of research in respect to HIIT. However, the clinical data to date has overall been positive. This amino acid is beneficial for people participating in high-intensity exercise and training. As with any supplement, it is always important to seek professional advice and gain the approval of your doctor to ensure that there are no underlying risks.

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