The Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Mechanical Performance, Acid-Base Balance, Oxidative Stress, and Enzymatic Antioxidant Defence During Repeated Wingate Anaerobic Tests Under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions

NCT07650162 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MGBA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Beta-alanine is a dietary supplement that increases skeletal muscle carnosine concentration and may enhance the muscle's ability to buffer hydrogen ions produced during high-intensity exercise. This buffering effect could potentially delay fatigue and improve exercise performance, particularly under conditions that increase metabolic stress, such as hypoxia. However, previous studies examining the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on repeated sprint performance under hypoxic conditions have produced inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study is to determine whether four weeks of beta-alanine supplementation improves repeated high-intensity cycling performance and influences markers of acid-base balance in trained male cyclists exercising under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Participants will perform repeated Wingate anaerobic cycling tests before and after a four-week supplementation period with either beta-alanine or placebo. Mechanical performance outcomes, including peak power, mean power, total work, and fatigue indices, will be assessed alongside physiological measures of metabolic stress, including blood lactate concentration, pH, bicarbonate concentration, and base excess. Performance and physiological responses will be compared between supplementation groups and environmental conditions. The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the ergogenic potential of beta-alanine supplementation during repeated high-intensity exercise and provide practical information for athletes and practitioners regarding the effectiveness of beta-alanine under conditions of reduced oxygen availability.

Conditions

Cyclists; Healthy Adult Male

Keywords

muscle buffering; anaerobic performance; Wingate test; acid-base balance; hypoxia; cyclists

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Mean Power (W)

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Peak Power (W)

  4 weeks

• Relative Peak Power (W·kg-¹)

  4 weeks

• Total Work (J)

  4 weeks

• Fatigue Slope (W·s-¹)

  4 weeks

• Rate of Fatigue (%)

  4 weeks

Study Arms (4)

BA-N

EXPERIMENTAL

Beta-alanine + normoxia

Dietary Supplement: beta-alanine; Other: normoxic conditions

PL-N

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Placebo + normoxia

Other: normoxic conditions; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

BA-H

EXPERIMENTAL

Beta-alanine + hypoxia

Dietary Supplement: beta-alanine; Other: Normobaric hypoxic conditions (≈2500 m)

PL-H

EXPERIMENTAL

Placebo + hypoxia

Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Other: Normobaric hypoxic conditions (≈2500 m)

Interventions

beta-alanine DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

β-alanine (6 g·day-¹)

Also known as: BA

BA-H; BA-N

normoxic conditions OTHER

normoxic conditions

Also known as: N

BA-N; PL-N

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo (6 g·day-¹)

PL-H; PL-N

Normobaric hypoxic conditions (≈2500 m) OTHER

Normobaric hypoxic conditions (≈2500 m)

Also known as: H

BA-H; PL-H

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy male participants aged 20-50 years
• Regularly riding a bike (min. 5000 km on the bike in the last year)
• Willingness to maintain habitual dietary and physical activity patterns throughout the study.
• Willingness to refrain from consuming dietary supplements other than those provided as part of the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Prevalence of chronic diseases
• β-alanine supplementation within the previous six months
• Use of other dietary supplements, except carbohydrate and whey protein supplements
• Adherence to a vegetarian or vegan diet
• Participation in another clinical trial within the previous 3 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice: lead

Study Sites (1)

Academy of Physical Education in Katowice

Katowice, Poland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hypoxia

Interventions

beta-Alanine; Protons

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alanine; Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Cations, Monovalent; Cations; Ions; Electrolytes; Inorganic Chemicals; Hydrogen; Elements; Gases; Nucleons; Elementary Particles; Physical Phenomena

Study Officials

• Mateusz Gawelczyk, PhD

  Institute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants performed three consecutive 30-s Wingate tests under normoxic or normo-baric hypoxic conditions (≈2500 m). Following baseline testing, participants consumed either β-alanine (6 g·day-¹) or placebo for four weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2026
• First Posted: June 16, 2026
• Study Start: November 20, 2019
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2026
• Study Completion: June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL

Locations

PL (1)