Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
Beta-Alanine
Selected research topic
Exercise performance
Findings differ across measurements or study conditions. The results below keep them separate.
Findings from a combination study cannot be attributed to this ingredient alone.
- Publications for this topic
- 32
- Human comparison publications
- 9
- Publications needing review
- 21
Findings in the studies
2,000-m rowing performance
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient · After 28 and 30 days
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Chronic beta-alanine versus placebo in the 2,000-m rowing time trial.
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- After 28 and 30 days
average peak torque
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient · After 28 days
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Beta-alanine versus placebo.
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- After 28 days
average power at 1RM
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
average power output
- No clear difference from the comparison group was found.General population · Single ingredient · after 4 weeks
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: beta-alanine versus placebo on 4-minute cycling time-trial average power
- Measurement time
- after 4 weeks
Other measured outcomes (8)
CMJ power
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient · 5 weeks
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Clinical trial
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: beta-alanine versus placebo
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- 5 weeks
PW(CFT)
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.
Several ingredients were tested together, so this ingredient’s individual effect is unknown.
General population · Combination study · 12 weeksMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Ingredient combination
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: ONS+beta-alanine dose groups vs ONS alone
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- 12 weeks
race times
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient · After 28 days of supplementation
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Beta-alanine versus placebo; within-arm pre/post times also reported
- Additional measurement information
- Primary outcome
- Measurement time
- After 28 days of supplementation
Repeat sprint performance
- No clear difference from the comparison group was found.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Clinical trial
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
Sprint endurance
- No clear difference from the comparison group was found.
What the comparison group used was not confirmed.
Single ingredientMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups.
- Measurement time
- Not confirmed.
total work performed during the final third of the assessment
- A better result than the comparison group was reported.General population · Single ingredient · After 28 days
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Beta-alanine versus placebo.
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- After 28 days
Time-to-exhaustion during the isometric endurance test
Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
- A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.General population · Single ingredient · after 4 weeks
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · General population
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Changes within the same group were compared. · Study comparison: within-BA-group change from baseline; placebo unchanged
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- after 4 weeks
exercise capacity
Research with unclear study subject or type
- A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.Single ingredient
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Systematic review
- Study population
- Recorded population category: General population. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Study comparison: reviewed beta-alanine protocols; no explicit common comparator
- Measurement time
- mean intervention duration 11.7 ± 1.0 weeks
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (14)
- competition performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
- endurance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- exercise performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 2Evidence criteria check: 2
- High-intensity intermittent exercise performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- LDT · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- LTT · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- number of moves · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- peak power during WAnT1 · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Sprint performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- time to failure · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- total number of "slaps" · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- TTT · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Vertical jump performance · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- Yo-Yo test · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.
Representative outcome and study details
Human studies reported between-group improvement in 2,000-m rowing performance.
Single-ingredient studies · Human studies · between-group comparison
1 publications linked to this result
- Route, form, dose, or population details are incomplete, so the findings cannot be confirmed as directly comparable.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: A
The 84.3 evidence score includes 23 independent human studies and 22 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The A tier reflects evidence directness, repetition, and consistency together.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 77
Papers linked to this topic 32 · distinct papers 32 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 9 · papers needing additional review 21
A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- 2,000-m rowing performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- average peak torque: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- average power at 1RM: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- average power output: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- CMJ power: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- competition performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- endurance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- exercise capacity: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- exercise performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 2 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- High-intensity intermittent exercise performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- LDT: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- LTT: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- number of moves: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- peak power during WAnT1: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- PW(CFT): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- race times: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Repeat sprint performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Sprint endurance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Sprint performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- time to failure: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Time-to-exhaustion during the isometric endurance test: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- total number of "slaps": Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- total work performed during the final third of the assessment: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- TTT: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Vertical jump performance: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Yo-Yo test: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
What the research found
average power output
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Sprint endurance
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
2,000-m rowing performance
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
average peak torque
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
average power at 1RM
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
PW(CFT)
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
race times
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Time-to-exhaustion during the isometric endurance test
A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Within-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
total work performed during the final third of the assessment
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
CMJ power
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Repeat sprint performance
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
exercise capacity
A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
Review · Single ingredient · General population
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
competition performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
endurance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
exercise performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · General population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
exercise performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
High-intensity intermittent exercise performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
LDT
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · General population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
LTT
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · General population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
number of moves
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
peak power during WAnT1
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Unknown intervention · Patient group
Within-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Sprint performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
time to failure
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
total number of "slaps"
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Within-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
TTT
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · General population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
4 papers · 4 measured outcomes
4 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Unknown intervention · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Vertical jump performance
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Yo-Yo test
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · General population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
No reviewed caution rules are available yet. Reported caution findings are shown below.
Findings to review with care
Side effects reported for the ingredient alone are separated from findings involving another supplement or medication.
Side effects reported with this ingredient alone
Symptoms or adverse events reported in studies without another active ingredient.
paraesthesia1 papers
Beta‑alanine supplementation is generally safe in healthy adults; the only reported side effect is mild paraesthesia, which can be reduced by lower divided doses or sustained‑release formulations.Human studies · Systematic review