Beta Alanine Information for the Bodybuilder
What else can you tell me about Beta Alanine?
It is considered an organic amino acid because there is a carbon atom in
its molecular structure. Alanine can be found in fish,poultry, pork and
beef. Most animal based protein foods contain large amounts of
Beta-alanine.
How does Beta Alanine work?
Beta alanine is an amino acid that binds with Histidine (another amino
acid) to form Carnosine. Carnosine is a dipeptide that delays muscle
fatigue, thus allowing you to do another rep or two, which then stimulates
greater muscle growth!
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Beta Alanine Information
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Category: Strength, Specialty
Explanation: Beta Alanine (also known as L-alanine) is a non-essential
amino acid that combines with the amino acid Histidine (many of the
products featured on this page also contain Histidine) in the muscle to
form a dipeptide known as carnosine. When a high concentration of
carnosine is present in the muscle, research has confirmed that it
increases power and strength. Carnosine also reduces muscle fatigue.
Bodybuilding Benefit: Beta Alanine is a highly rated bodybuilding
supplement because it reduces muscular fatigue which allows the muscle
to do more work, (perform more reps) which stimulates increased
muscular growth. Beta Alanine is especially effective when stacked with
creatine. Studies have shown that weight trainers who supplement with
Beta Alanine and creatine experienced significantly more muscle growth
and strength gains than those who only took creatine.
Timing and Dosing: 1-1.5 mg combined with pre and post workout
creatine shakes. Take 1-1.5 grams with breakfast on non-workout days.
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Histidine is present in high concentrations in your muscle tissue already.
Beta-alanine is present only in small amounts. Research has determined
that beta-alanine is what really triggers carnosine synthesis, not histidine.
There is no need to supplement with extra histidine to increase carnosine
levels.
Does it make sense to supplement with carnosine instead of
beta-alanine?
It sounds like it would be the way to go, but carnosine is broken down in
the intestines into the amino acids, beta-alanine and histidine. Then these
amino acids are transported into the muscle tissue where they bind
together to form....you guessed it, Carnosine! The problem is that most of
the carnosine you started with is destroyed by this process, so you end up
with a lot less carnosine in the muscle. You would have to take very large
doses of carnosine to do any good. Beta alanine is already broken down,
so it goes directly to the muscle to start forming carnosine.
Clearly, supplementing with beta-alanine is a more efficient way to
increase carnosine levels.