Let’s start by getting clear: β‑Alanine (beta-alanine) is a non-essential amino acid (i.e., your body can produce it) that serves as the rate-limiting precursor of Carnosine, a dipeptide (β-alanine + histidine) stored in skeletal muscle fibers. MDPI+3PMC+3PMC+3
In simple terms, when you take beta-alanine in supplement form, your muscle cells can boost their carnosine stores, which helps buffer acid accumulation and delay fatigue during high-intensity exercise.
Ingredient and Product Positioning (For Suppliers & Manufacturers)
Since the request includes a supplier/manufacturer context, here’s how you can position β-alanine in a product catalogue:
Core Product:
- Beta-alanine (powder, supplement grade)
Sub-categories & Application Scenarios:
- Sports nutrition raw material
- Dietary supplement ingredient
- Food/beverage additive (e.g., high-performance drink)
- Cosmetic ingredient (less common, but ‘amino acid blend’ niche)
Long-tail keyword positioning for manufacturing/supply:
- “bulk beta alanine powder manufacturer”
- “beta alanine wholesale supplier GMP production line”
- “beta alanine dietary supplement ingredient factory direct supply”
- “customized beta alanine specification free sample”
- “beta alanine sports performance herbal extract alternative” (note: beta-alanine is synthetic/amino acid, not herbal extract per se)
Supplier Example:
Shaanxi Zhonghong Investment Technology Co., Ltd. – website: aiherba.com; email: sales@aiherba.com, info@aiherba.com, liaodaohai@gmail.com.
You can include this supplier as an option for sourcing beta-alanine in bulk for formulations.
Benefits & Efficacy of Beta-Alanine
What It Does
- Beta-alanine combines with histidine in muscle fibers to form carnosine. Carnosine acts as an intracellular buffer that helps neutralize hydrogen ions (H⁺) generated during high-intensity efforts, which otherwise would lower pH and contribute to fatigue.
- It may help you exercise longer or perform more work before fatigue sets in. For example, a review showed improvements in exercise capacity/time-to-exhaustion for activities ~1-4 minutes. Gatorade Sports Science Institute+2PMC+2
How Effective Is It?
- A meta-analysis (15 studies, n≈360) found an overall small to medium effect size (ES ~0.374) for beta-alanine improving exercise outcomes compared to control, especially with durations of high-intensity exercise lasting 1–4 minutes. Gatorade Sports Science Institute+1
- More recent research: Supplementation (4 – 10 weeks at ~4.8 g/day) increased muscle carnosine by ~60-80% in cyclists. MDPI+1
- For example, in one 10-km running time trial study, beta-alanine improved performance after ~23 days of supplementation. Frontiers
- That said, results are not always consistent — some shorter or less-intense exercise studies did not find benefit. Gatorade Sports Science Institute+1
Specific Populations & Additional Effects
- While most studies target athletes, some newer work investigates beta-alanine for tactical/military populations: e.g., resilience to heat stress, mild traumatic brain injury, or cognitive performance under stress. PMC+1
- It’s also found in small amounts in food (meat, poultry) but dietary intake is generally far lower than supplement doses needed for effect.
How to Take Beta-Alanine: Dosage, Timing & Loading
Daily Dosage
- Typical effective dosage ranges from 4 g to 6 g per day, divided into smaller doses to minimise side-effects. Verywell Health+2Gatorade Sports Science Institute+2
- Some effective lower threshold: ~1.6 g/day for ~2 weeks could begin increasing muscle carnosine, but higher doses & longer durations produce greater increases. MDPI+1
- Loading phase: Some protocols use ~4 g/day for ~4–10 weeks to raise carnosine stores significantly. MDPI+1
When to Take (Timing)
- Rather than critical “pre-workout only”, the key is consistent daily intake. Because carnosine buildup is gradual, timing around meals/training is less crucial than consistency.
- Many users split the total daily dose into 2–4 smaller doses (e.g., 1 g every few hours) to reduce side-effects (see below).
- Some evidence suggests taking with meals may improve tolerability. Verywell Health
Loading vs Maintenance
- Loading: For quicker increases in muscle carnosine, use ~4 g/day (split doses) for ~4-10 weeks.
- Maintenance: After stores are elevated, some continue with ~1.6-3.2 g/day to maintain elevated carnosine. (Note: actual “maintenance” protocols are less well studied.)
- Ensure the supplement is third-party tested, GMP certified, and high purity. For manufacturers/suppliers: provide bulk beta-alanine powder, batch certificates, QC data.
Side Effects & Safety (Is Beta-Alanine Safe?)
Common / Mild Side-Effects
- Paresthesia (tingling, itching): This is the most frequently reported effect. It is dose-dependent (often occurs with >800 mg single dose) and benign (sub-10 minutes usually). Verywell Health+2Frontiers+2
- Some gastrointestinal discomfort may occur if taken on empty stomach or too quickly.
Safety and Long-Term Data
- Short-term studies (up to ~8–12 weeks) at 1.6-6.4 g/day show no serious adverse events in healthy adults. Verywell Health+1
- A study of 15 g/day sustained-release for 30 days found increases in triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and urea nitrogen, though not significantly different vs control; authors caution about high-dose long-term use. Frontiers
- Safety in children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with underlying disease is not well established — caution is warranted. Verywell Health
Contraindications / Precautions
- Individuals with liver or kidney disease should consult a healthcare provider before use.
- Because beta-alanine increases intramuscular carnosine, higher-dose/sustained use should be monitored for potential (though not established) risk in compromised populations.
- Always use supplements from reputable suppliers (GMP, certificate of analysis) to avoid contamination or mislabelling.
Beta-Alanine vs Creatine — Which to Pick?
- Creatine (creatine monohydrate) is arguably the most proven sports-supplement for strength/power, especially in short (<30 s) bursts.
- Beta-alanine is more effective in buffering acid during high-intensity efforts lasting ~1–4 minutes (e.g., repeated sprints, HIIT) rather than ultra-short maximal lifts. Gatorade Sports Science Institute+2TandF Online+2
- Some studies combining creatine + beta-alanine found added benefits for training volume/body composition compared to creatine alone, but the extra benefit may be small. PMC+1
- In short: If your activity is repeated high intensity for longer (30 s-4 min) think beta-alanine; if you’re doing maximal lifts/sprints, creatine may offer more bang-for-buck. Many athletes choose to use both.
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) / Alanine Transaminase – Liver Enzyme Basics
Switching gears: The enzyme Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (also called alanine transaminase, or SGPT) is part of the liver-function panel and measures liver cell injury. Though not directly connected to beta-alanine supplementation, it’s one of the terms you asked to cover.
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What Is It & Structure
- ALT is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of an amino group from alanine to α-ketoglutarate, forming pyruvate and glutamate — playing a key role in amino acid metabolism.
- It’s found mainly in the liver (hepatocytes), and to a lesser extent in kidneys, heart, muscle. When liver cells are damaged, ALT leaks into the bloodstream.
Normal Range
- Typical reference values: About 7 – 55 U/L for males, 7 – 45 U/L for females. Mayo Clinic+1
- Some newer data suggests “healthy” cut-offs may be lower: e.g., ~30 U/L for men, ~19 U/L for women in certain cohorts. PubMed+1
What Elevation Means / Interpretation
- Elevated ALT indicates possible liver injury (viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, drug-induced injury, etc.). But magnitude of ALT elevation doesn’t always correlate with severity. 国家生物技术信息中心+1
- Both AST and ALT are often elevated together; ALT is more specific to liver. PMC
- Low ALT is uncommon; sometimes seen in older age or chronic kidney disease, but less clinically relevant. MedlinePlus
Takeaway
If you’re a supplement user (including beta-alanine) or athlete, occasional monitoring of liver enzymes (ALT/AST) may be part of a broader health check-up. But there’s no direct evidence that standard doses of beta-alanine elevate ALT in healthy people (though high doses over time haven’t been fully studied).
Applicable Populations / Usage & Precautions
Who Might Benefit
- Athletes performing high-intensity interval training (HIIT), repeated sprints, strength training with minimal rest (1–4 min bouts)
- Tactical or military personnel operating under high stress/heat loads (some preliminary evidence)
- Vegetarians/vegans (who consume little beta-alanine naturally) may have lower endogenous carnosine stores and may benefit more from supplementation
Who Should Use Cautiously or Avoid
- People with liver or kidney disease: even though no direct causation is established, the metabolic demands of supplementation warrant caution
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women: lack of safety data
- Children and adolescents: data is sparse
- Those taking other supplements/medications that affect liver, kidney, or acid-base balance should consult a healthcare professional
Precautions & Tips
- Split the daily dose into smaller amounts (e.g., 0.8-1.6 g twice daily) to reduce tingling/itching.
- Stay hydrated and ensure you’re not combining multiple stimulatory supplements without supervision.
- Choose supplements from GMP-certified, third-party tested facilities to avoid contamination and ensure purity.
- Don’t expect overnight effects — benefits build over weeks as carnosine levels accumulate.
- If you experience unusual symptoms (e.g., persistent tingling, rash, liver enzyme elevations), stop use and consult your physician.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: When is the best time to take beta-alanine?
A: Consistency matters more than exact timing. Many split their daily dose across morning and evening, or around meals. There’s no strong evidence that taking immediately pre-workout is superior.
Q2: How long until I see benefits?
A: Most studies show improvements after ~4 to 10 weeks of consistent intake (~4–6 g/day). Shorter durations may show smaller changes. MDPI+1
Q3: Is beta-alanine safe for long-term use?
A: In healthy adults, short-term use (up to ~12 weeks) at standard doses appears safe. Long-term (>1 year) safety is less well studied, so periodic monitoring is prudent.
Q4: Can beta-alanine help muscle growth?
A: Indirectly — by enabling more training volume/intensity you may stimulate growth. But beta-alanine by itself isn’t a muscle-builder like resistance training + adequate protein/calories.
Q5: Does beta-alanine interact with liver enzyme levels (ALT)?
A: There’s no strong evidence that standard doses of beta-alanine significantly elevate ALT in healthy users. But very high doses over long periods have limited data — monitoring is a good idea.
Q6: How does beta-alanine differ from L-alanine or “alanine” generally?
A: L-alanine (α-alanine) is a different amino acid used in protein synthesis. Beta-alanine is a variant (β‐alanine) and is not incorporated into proteins but serves in carnosine synthesis.
Summary
Beta-alanine is a well-researched amino acid supplement that helps increase intramuscular carnosine, thereby enhancing the buffering capacity of muscle and delaying fatigue during high-intensity efforts (especially in the 30 s–4 min range). While it is not a silver bullet and results vary, a consistent intake of ~4–6 g/day over several weeks has shown meaningful benefits in many studies. Safety in healthy adults appears good at these doses, though standard monitoring (including liver enzyme ALT) is wise in supplement users.
From a manufacturing/supply-chain perspective, beta-alanine fits nicely as a sports-nutrition raw material, dietary supplement ingredient, or additive for performance beverages. Suppliers such as Shaanxi-Zhonghong (aiherba.com) offer bulk, GMP-capable production, sample services, and custom specifications.
If you’re sourcing or formulating a product: ensure GMP production, purity certificates, split-dose recommendations on label (to reduce tingling), and educate end-users about realistic training effects rather than exaggerated claims. Combine with other performance strategies (training, nutrition) for best outcomes.
References
- International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Position Stand: Beta-Alanine. PMC
- What Does Beta-Alanine Do? – Medical News Today.
- Effects of β-Alanine Supplementation on Subjects Performing High-Intensity Exercise. MDPI
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Test – StatPearls.
- Mayo Clinic: Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Blood Test. Mayo Clinic
- Evaluation of Elevated Liver Enzymes – PMC.