Effects of a 7 week beta-alanine supplementation on anaerobic power output in
female collegiate soccer, softball, and volleyball players Benjamin Kern, Tracey L Robinson
Department of Human Performance and Physical Education, Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado.
Women’s collegiate soccer, softball, and volleyball are sports in which the metabolic demand for the athlete is primarily anaerobic, with soccer relying heavily on the fast-glycolytic energy system, and softball and volleyball nearly exclusively on phosphagen system. Training for these sports reflects this metabolic reliance. Supplementing with beta-alanine has been shown in previous research to delay fatigue during high intensity exer-cise.
Background
The Soccer and Softball subjects taking β-alanine significantly improved on FAH compared
to placebo: 6.37 sec ± 3.97 sec vs. -2.25 sec ± 2.2 sec, S supplement vs. S placebo, 6.01 sec ± 5.35 sec vs. 1.39 sec ± 2.65 sec, SB supplement vs. SB placebo, (p< 0.05).
The Volleyball subjects taking β-alanine improved FAH more than placebo, but not
significantly: 7.78 sec ± 2.44 sec vs. 2.36 sec ± 1.45 sec, VB supplement vs. VB placebo (p=.228).
All subjects taking β-alanine significantly improved in the 300 yard shuttle (-1.51 sec ± 0.4
sec), while subjects taking placebo showed little change (0.13 sec ± 1.3 sec), (p< 0.05). Though statistical differences were recorded between supplemented and placebo groups, no statistical differences were recorded within groups (S, SB, or VB), supplement vs. placebo.
While no significant differences in Wingate peak power were recorded, supplemented subjects (S, SB, VB) demonstrated lower % power drop during Wingate Anaerobic Power testing (-25.7% ± 12.2% vs. -30.44% ± 8.65%, supplement vs. placebo).
Blood lactate values following Wingate and 300 yd. shuttle were extremely high (≥ 8 mmol/L), but no significant differences within or between groups were observed.
No significant changes in body composition occurred within or between groups.
Results
In spite of no statistical change in body weight, body composition, or post-exercise lactate, supplemented subjects performed better in tests of anaerobic power. The results of this study suggest that β-alanine has the ability to improve
anaerobic power in a short amount of time (7 weeks) when combined with high intensity training.
Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that β-alanine has the ability to improve anaero-
bic power in a short amount of time (7 weeks) when combined with high intensity training. Adding β-alanine to athletes’ training programs may improve anaerobic
endurance and increase realization of training goals (i.e. muscular strength and endurance).
Practical Applications
The authors would like to thank the Adams State Women's Soccer, Softball and Volleyball teams and their respective coaching staffs, as well as the Human Performance and Physical Education department and Adams State College for financial assistance. The products were donated by Athletic Edge Nutrition. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of β-alanine as an ergogenic aid
in tests of anaerobic power output following 7 weeks of high intensity interval, repeated sprint, and resistance training in previously trained female collegiate soccer, softball, and volleyball players.
Methods Twenty-three soccer (19.4 ± 0.8 yr, age ± SD), twenty-two softball (19.4 ± 1.2 yr), and nine volleyball players (18.6 ± 0.7 yr) participated in this double-blind, placebo controlled study. Each subject ingested either 4 g/day β-alanine or placebo in powdered capsule form. Subjects were tested pre and post intervention in timed 300 yd. shuttle run, Wingate An-aerobic Power cycling test, 90˚ flexed arm hang (FAH), body composition; blood lactate was measured following Wingate and 300 yd. shuttle run.
90° Flexed Arm Hang 300 yard shuttle
25 yards x 6 round trips, down and back
Start / Finish
Wingate Anaerobic Power
Performance Tests
Body Composition
LANGE skinfold caliper
Athletes ingested 4g (6 capsules) beta-alanine each
day.
Athletes participated in regular off-season training sessions 4-5
days/week.
Sessions included high intensity
interval, repeated sprints, & heavy
resistance training
Treatment
Blood Lactate
Women’s collegiate soccer, softball, and volleyball are sports in which the metabolic demand for the athlete is primarily anaerobic, with soccer relying heavily on the fast-glycolytic energy system, and softball and volleyball nearly exclusively on phosphagen system. Training for these sports reflects this metabolic reliance. Supplementing with β-alanine has been shown in previous research to delay fatigue during high intensity exercise. PURPOSE: To examine the effectiveness of β-alanine as an
ergogenic aid in tests of anaerobic power output following 7 weeks of high intensity interval, repeated sprint, and resistance training in previously trained female collegiate soccer (S), softball (SB), and volleyball (VB) players. METHODS: 23 soccer (19.4 ± 0.8 yr, age ± SD), 22 softball (19.4 ± 1.2 yr), and 9 volleyball players (18.6 ± 0.7 yr) participated in this double-blind, placebo controlled study. Each subject ingested either 4 g/day β-alanine or placebo in powdered capsule form. Subjects were tested pre and post intervention in timed 300 yd. shuttle run, Wingate Anaerobic Power cycling test (WIN), 90˚ flexed arm hang (FAH), body composition, and blood lactate was measured following Wingate and 300 yd. shuttle run. RESULTS: The S and SB subjects taking β-alanine significantly improved on FAH compared to placebo: 6.37 sec ± 3.97 sec vs. -2.25 sec ± 2.2 sec, S supp vs. S placebo, 6.01 sec ± 5.35 sec vs. 1.39 sec ± 2.65 sec, SB supp vs. SB placebo, (p< 0.05). The VB subjects taking β-alanine improved FAH more than placebo, but not significantly: 7.78 sec ± 2.44 sec vs. 2.36 sec ± 1.45 sec, VB supp vs. VB placebo (p=.228). Subjects taking β-alanine significantly improved in the 300 yard shuttle (-1.51 sec ± 0.4 sec), while subjects taking placebo showed little change (0.13 sec ± 1.3 sec), (p< 0.05). Though statistical differences were recorded between supplemented and placebo groups in 300 yd. shuttle run performance, no statistical differences were recorded within groups (S, SB, or VB), supp vs. placebo. Supplemented subjects (S, SB, VB) demonstrated lower WIN % power drop (-25.7% ± 12.2% vs. -30.44% ± 8.65%, supp vs. placebo), though not statistically significant. Blood lactate values following WIN and 300 yd. shuttle, while extremely high (≥ 8 mmol/L), were also not significantly different. No significant changes in body composition occurred within or between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of no statistical change in body weight, body composition, or post-exercise lactate, supplemented subjects performed better in tests of anaerobic power. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results of this study suggest that β-alanine has the ability to improve anaerobic power in a short amount of time (7 weeks) when combined with high intensity training. ACKNOWL-EDGEMENT: The products were donated by Athletic Edge Nutrition. No other funding was received. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Abstract
Test S supp S placebo SB supp SB placebo VB supp VB placebo
n=11 n=12 n=11 n=11 n=5 n=4
∆ 90° FAH 6.37 ± 3.97* -2.25 ± 2.20 6.01 ± 5.35* 1.39 ± 2.65 7.78 ± 2.44 2.36 ± 1.45
∆ 300 shuttle -1.17 ± 1.92 1.52 ± 3.81 -1.91 ± 1.84 -1.09 ± 5.18 -1.45 ± 0.77 -0.03 ± 0.24
∆ WIN %pwr drop -16.33 ± 19.06 -23.08 ± 18.63 -38.57 ± 20.94 -39.97 ± 15.46 -24.12 ± 8.36 -28.26 ± 12.06
∆ bodyfat % 0.36 ± 0.82 0.30 ± 0.95 -0.29 ± 1.14 -1.15 ± 0.93 0.50 ± 1.69 0.35 ± 0.39
∆ 300 Lactate 1.43 ± 5.84 -1.82 ± 5.23 -4.49 ± 4.43 -1.92 ± 7.20 -1.78 ± 3.70 -9.42 ± 7.68
∆ WIN Lactate -0.40 ± 3.85 -1.81 ± 3.74 0.32 ± 5.09 0.45 ± 6.37 1.80 ± 4.20 -3.22 ± 5.92
*
= p ≤ 0.05
*
*
*
* = p ≤ 0.05
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