Biomedical, Life and Health Sciences Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
Amino Acids. 2012 Jul;43(1):25-37. doi: 10.1007/s00726-011-1200-z. Epub 2012 Jan 24.
Due to the well-defined role of β-alanine as a substrate of carnosine (a major contributor to H+ buffering during high-intensity exercise), β-alanine is fast becoming a popular ergogenic aid to sports performance. There have been several recent qualitative review articles published on the topic, and here we present a preliminary quantitative review of the literature through a meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of the literature was employed to identify all studies suitable for inclusion in the analysis; strict exclusion criteria were also applied. Fifteen published manuscripts were included in the analysis, which reported the results of 57 measures within 23 exercise tests, using 18 supplementation regimes and a total of 360 participants [174, β-alanine supplementation group (BA) and 186, placebo supplementation group (Pla)]. BA improved (P=0.002) the outcome of exercise measures to a greater extent than Pla [median effect size (IQR): BA 0.374 (0.140-0.747), Pla 0.108 (-0.019 to 0.487)]. Some of that effect might be explained by the improvement (P=0.013) in exercise capacity with BA compared to Pla; no improvement was seen for exercise performance (P=0.204). In line with the purported mechanisms for an ergogenic effect of β-alanine supplementation, exercise lasting 60-240 s was improved (P=0.001) in BA compared to Pla, as was exercise of >240 s (P=0.046). In contrast, there was no benefit of β-alanine on exercise lasting <60 s (P=0.312). The median effect of β-alanine supplementation is a 2.85% (-0.37 to 10.49%) improvement in the outcome of an exercise measure, when a median total of 179 g of β-alanine is supplemented.
由于 β-丙氨酸作为肌肽（高强度运动时 H+缓冲的主要贡献者）的底物的明确作用，β-丙氨酸迅速成为提高运动表现的流行的运动补剂。关于这个主题已经发表了几篇最近的定性综述文章，在这里我们通过荟萃分析对文献进行了初步的定量综述。对文献进行了全面搜索，以确定所有适合纳入分析的研究；还应用了严格的排除标准。有 15 篇已发表的手稿被纳入分析，其中报告了 23 项运动测试中 57 项措施的结果，使用了 18 种补充方案，共有 360 名参与者[174 名，β-丙氨酸补充组（BA）和 186 名，安慰剂补充组（Pla）]。BA 改善（P=0.002）运动措施的结果比 Pla 更明显[中位数效应大小（IQR）：BA 0.374（0.140-0.747），Pla 0.108（-0.019 至 0.487）]。部分效果可能是由于 BA 比 Pla 改善了运动能力[P=0.013]；而运动表现没有改善[P=0.204]。与 β-丙氨酸补充剂具有运动补剂作用的推测机制一致，BA 比 Pla 改善了 60-240 秒的运动（P=0.001），>240 秒的运动也是如此（P=0.046）。相反，β-丙氨酸对持续时间<60 秒的运动没有好处（P=0.312）。当补充 β-丙氨酸的中位数为 179 克时，β-丙氨酸补充的中位数效应是运动措施结果改善 2.85%（-0.37 至 10.49%）。
