Beta-Alanine Increases Your Repetition
December 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Weightlifting endurance tests are often used to measure the strength and performance of several athletic teams and personal training courses. One good example is the NFL combine tests. This test includes max reps in the bench press using 225 pounds. Alanine supplements may actually heighten weightlifting endurance. Alanine is an amino acid that gives you energy when exercising. The liver changes it to blood sugar in a process known as the glucose alanine cycle. While alanine is not used to combine muscle tissue or enzymes, it assists in fueling muscle contractions during an exercise session.
What is Beta-Alanine?
Researchers from the College of New Jersey discoverd that beta-alanine supplements helps to improved muscle endurance during weight training, for example, maximum amount of repetitions in the squat. They gave 4.8 grams beta-alanine on a daily basis to trained men involved in a 4-week training program. The men participated in doing six sets of twelve repetitions in the squat at 70% of max effort. In the muscle endurance test, the supplement group actually did 22% more repetitions than a placebo group and also developed 9 times more leg power. Alanine supplements had no effects on growth hormone, cortisol and no effect on testosterone.
In other studies, researchers discovered that 10g of beta-alanine daily caused tingling and numbness in the subjects skin.
Source: International Journal Sports Medicine, published online, June 11, 2008
