Overview

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid. Most amino acids are building blocks of proteins, but beta-alanine is used to make other chemicals in the body.

Because beta-alanine can be made by the body, it doesn't need to be consumed in food. It is a part of carnosine and other chemicals that can affect muscle size and performance.

People use beta-alanine for athletic performance and improving physical performance in elderly adults. It is also used for symptoms of menopause, age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Don't confuse beta-alanine with the similarly named alpha-alanine. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

  • Athletic performance. Taking beta-alanine by mouth can somewhat improve some measures of athletic performance. But not all research agrees. It might increase the amount of exercise done but not how well it is done.
  • Physical performance in elderly adults. Taking beta-alanine by mouth improves the ability to exercise and delays muscle tiredness in older adults. But it doesn't seem to help with strength training.
There is interest in using beta-alanine for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Beta-alanine is possibly safe when used short-term. A specific commercial product (CarnoSyn, Natural Alternatives International) has been used safely for up to 12 weeks. High doses can cause flushing and tingling. Taking a tablet instead of drinking a solution made from beta-alanine powder might reduce these side effects.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Beta-alanine is possibly safe when used short-term. A specific commercial product (CarnoSyn, Natural Alternatives International) has been used safely for up to 12 weeks. High doses can cause flushing and tingling. Taking a tablet instead of drinking a solution made from beta-alanine powder might reduce these side effects.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if beta-alanine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for BETA-ALANINE overview.

Dosing

Beta-alanine has most often been used by adults in doses of 1.6-6.4 grams by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
View References

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.