Beta Alanine

The use of Beta-Alanine to increase muscle Carnosine offers a way to increase anaerobic exercise potential and, is likely to add to the effects of Creatine in some exercise settings. First discovered in the early 1900's, Beta-Alanine and Histidine are the two components of Carnosine. Histidine is already present in large quantity within skeletal muscles, so it is Beta-Alanine that acts as the rate-limiting factor in Carnosine conversion. A buildup of metabolic waste limits muscle contraction, with Hydrogen ions being the worst. This is primarily true of our fast fibers, which are most sensitive to Hydrogen ions and extremely susceptible to fatigue. If the Hydrogen ions can be buffered, muscle strength can be maintained for a longer time before fatigue sets in. This means that anyone involved in exercise where lactic acid buildup is the limiting factor, including bodybuilders, stands to benefit from beta-alanine. In the gym, this may translate into more reps with a given weight.