No ergogeniceffect of β-alanine on repeated sprint ability: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Science
• Sports Performance

Background:

• Chronic beta-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine and intracellular buffering.
• Its ergogenic effects are established for continuous high-intensity exercise.
• Impact on repeated sprint ability (RSA), dependent on phosphocreatine kinetics, is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy of chronic beta-alanine supplementation on RSA performance.
• To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search up to January 2026 across multiple databases.
• Included RCTs comparing beta-alanine (≥2 weeks) to placebo in healthy individuals.
• Meta-analysis using multilevel random-effects model; assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence.

Main Results:

• Meta-analysis of 17 RCTs showed no significant improvements in Mean RSA Performance (SMD = -0.018), Peak RSA Performance (SMD = 0.205), or Fatigue Decrement (SMD = -0.020).
• Subgroup and meta-regression analyses confirmed null findings across various doses, durations, exercise types, and training statuses.
• No statistically significant ergogenic effect of beta-alanine on RSA was detected.

Conclusions:

• Chronic beta-alanine supplementation does not significantly improve RSA performance, maximal anaerobic power, or fatigue resistance.
• The ergogenic mechanism of beta-alanine via carnosine buffering may not align with the primary metabolic demands of RSA (PCr kinetics, oxidative recovery).
• Further research may explore alternative supplementation strategies or populations for potential benefits in RSA.