Topacio D. Torres Vera1, Antonio Castillo-Paredes2, Alexander J. Iman Torres3, Jose J. Narrea Vargas4
11SportNut, Lima, Perú
2Grupo AFySE, Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud Escolar, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
3Facultad de Industrias Alimentarias, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana, Iquitos, Perú
4Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú
Effect of Chronic Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance and Lactate Markers in Elite Marathon Runners Living at Altitude: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Sport Mont 2026, 24(1), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.260214
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic beta-alanine supplementation on physical performance and blood lactate markers in elite marathon runners living at altitude. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a pre–post intervention design was conducted. Twelve athletes residing at 3259-3399 m above sea level were randomly assigned to a beta-alanine group (6 g·day⁻¹; n=5) or a placebo group (n=6) for four weeks. Before and after the intervention, blood lactate markers and physical performance were assessed using a maximal incremental running test on a 400 m track. Linear mixed-effects models showed no statistically significant group x time effects for maximal lactate concentration (β=−1.29 mmol·L⁻¹; 95% CI:−4.81 to 2.23), post–rest lactate difference (β=−1.77 mmol·L⁻¹; 95% CI:−5.67 to 2.12), or lactate clearance percentage (β =−19.27%; 95% CI:−54.4 to 15.8). Similarly, no meaningful effects were observed for maximal sustained running speed (β=−0.15 km·h⁻¹; 95% CI:−2.12 to 1.82), total exercise time (β=−0.42 min; 95% CI:−2.51 to 1.67), or distance covered (β=−0.21 km; 95% CI:−0.79 to 0.36). In conclusion, four weeks of beta-alanine supplementation did not produce detectable improvements in physical performance or lactate markers in elite marathon runners living at altitude, with effect estimates indicating small and imprecise differences between groups.
Keywords
sports performance, endurance athletes, hypoxia, sports nutrition, exercise physiolo
View full article
(PDF – 248KB)
References
Barahona-Fuentes, G., Huerta Ojeda, Á., Galdames Maliqueo, S., Yeomans-Cabrera, M. M., & Jorquera Aguilera, C. (2023). Effects of acute beta-alanine supplementation on post-exertion rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, blood lactate, and physical performance on the 6-minute race test in middle-distance runners. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 40(5), 1047–1055. https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.04432
Bonato, G., Goodman, S. P. J., & Tjh, L. (2023). Physiological and performance effects of live high train low altitude training for elite endurance athletes: A narrative review. Current Research in Physiology, 6, 100113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crphys.2023.100113
Brisola, G. M. P., & Zagatto, A. M. (2019). Ergogenic effects of β-alanine supplementation on different sports modalities: Strong evidence or only incipient findings? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(1), 253–282. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002925
Conway, J. M., Ingwersen, L. A., & Moshfegh, A. J. (2004). Accuracy of dietary recall using the USDA five-step multiple-pass method in men: An observational validation study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 104(4), 595–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2004.01.007
Domínguez Curi, C. H., & Áviles Arias, D. A. (2016). Tablas auxiliares para la formulación y evaluación de regímenes alimentarios (2.ª ed.). Ministerio de Salud; Instituto Nacional de Salud.
Ducker, K. J., Dawson, B., & Wallman, K. E. (2013). Effect of beta-alanine supplementation on 800-m running performance. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 23(6), 554–561. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.23.6.554
Esparza-Ros, F., Vaquero-Cristóbal, R., & Marfell-Jones, M. (2019). International standards for anthropometric assessment, 2019. International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK).
Franco, G. S., Noronha, N. Y., Oliveira, B. A., Ferreira, F. C., Pinto, A. P., Brandao, C. F., … Nonino, C. B. (2021). Beta-alanine fails to improve on 5000 m running time despite increasing PAT1 expression in long-distance runners. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 61(12), 1605–1612. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11946-7
Hostrup, M., & Bangsbo, J. (2016). Improving beta-alanine supplementation strategy to enhance exercise performance in athletes. The Journal of Physiology, 594(17), 4701–4702. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP272530
Huerta-Ojeda, Á., Contreras-Montilla, O., Galdames-Maliqueo, S., Jorquera-Aguilera, C., Fuentes-Kloss, R., & Guisado-Barrilao, R. (2019). Efectos de la suplementación aguda con beta-alanina sobre una prueba de tiempo límite a velocidad aeróbica máxima en atletas de resistencia. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 36(3), 698–705. https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.02310
Kyle, U. G., Bosaeus, I., De Lorenzo, A. D., Deurenberg, P., Elia, M., Manuel Gómez, J., … ESPEN. (2004). Bioelectrical impedance analysis—Part II: Utilization in clinical practice. Clinical Nutrition, 23(6), 1430–1453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2004.09.012
Marko, D., Snarr, R. L., Bahenský, P., Bunc, V., Krajcigr, M., & Malý, T. (2025). Beta-alanine supplementation improves time to exhaustion, but not aerobic capacity, in competitive middle- and long-distance runners. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 22(1), 2521336. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2025.2521336
Midgley, A. W., McNaughton, L. R., & Jones, A. M. (2007). Training to enhance the physiological determinants of long-distance running performance: Can valid recommendations be given to runners and coaches based on current scientific knowledge? Sports Medicine, 37(10), 857–880. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200737100-00003
Ojeda, Á. H., Barahona-Fuentes, G., Galdames Maliqueo, S., Guzmán Solis, M., Cabrera, M. M. Y., & Jorquera-Aguilera, C. (2023). Acute supplementation with beta-alanine improves performance in aerobic–anaerobic transition zones in endurance athletes. Journal of the American Nutrition Association, 42(2), 187–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2021.2020183
Patel, K. A., Farias de Oliveira, L., Sale, C., & James, R. M. (2021). The effect of β-alanine supplementation on high intensity cycling capacity in normoxia and hypoxia. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(11), 1295–1301. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1867416
Saunders, B., Sale, C., Harris, R. C., & Sunderland, C. (2014). Effect of sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine on repeated sprints during intermittent exercise performed in hypoxia. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 24(2), 196–205. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0102
Schulz, K. F., Altman, D. G., & Moher, D. (2010). CONSORT 2010 statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. BMJ, 340, c332. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c332
Stellingwerff, T., Peeling, P., Garvican-Lewis, L. A., Hall, R., Koivisto, A. E., Heikura, I. A., & Burke, L. M. (2019). Nutrition and altitude: Strategies to enhance adaptation, improve performance and maintain health: A narrative review. Sports Medicine, 49(Suppl 2), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01159-w
Thomas, D. T., Erdman, K. A., & Burke, L. M. (2016). American College of Sports Medicine joint position statement: Nutrition and athletic performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(3), 543–568. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000852
Trease, L., Singleman, G., Windsor, J., Allan, S., & Albert, E. (2022). Hydration strategies for physical activity and endurance events at high (>2500 m) altitude: A practical management article. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 32(4), 407–413. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000919
Wang, R., Fukuda, D. H., Hoffman, J. R., La Monica, M. B., Starling, T. M., Stout, J. R., … Hu, Y. (2019). Distinct effects of repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia and β-alanine supplementation. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 38(2), 149–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2018.1475269
World Conference on Research Integrity. (2010). Singapore statement on research integrity. World Conference on Research Integrity.
World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053