β-alanine supplementation improves in-vivo fresh and fatigued skeletal muscle relaxation speed

Jones, RL ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9657-9448, Barnett, CT ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6898-9095, Davidson, J, Maritza, B, Fraser, WD, Harris, R and Sale, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5816-4169, 2017. β-alanine supplementation improves in-vivo fresh and fatigued skeletal muscle relaxation speed. European Journal of Applied Physiology, pp. 1-13. ISSN 1439-6319

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Abstract

Purpose: In fresh muscle, supplementation with the rate-limiting precursor of carnosine, β-alanine (BA), results in a decline in muscle half-relaxation time (HRT) potentially via alterations to calcium (Ca2+) handling. Accumulation of hydrogen cation (H+) has been shown to impact Ca2+ signalling during muscular contraction, carnosine has the potential to serve as a cytoplasmic regulator of Ca2+ and H+ coupling, since it binds to both ions. The present study examined the effect of BA supplementation on intrinsic in-vivo isometric knee extensor force production and muscle contractility in both fresh and fatigued human skeletal muscle assessed during voluntary and electrically evoked (nerve and superficial muscle stimulation) contractions. Methods: Twenty-three males completed two experimental sessions, pre- and post- 28 day supplementation with 6.4 g.day−1 of BA (n=12) or placebo (PLA; n=11). Isometric force was recorded during a series of voluntary and electrically evoked knee extensor contractions. Results: BA supplementation had no effect on voluntary
or electrically  evoked isometric force production, or
twitch electromechanical delay and time-to-peak tension.
There was a significant decline in muscle HRT in fresh and fatigued muscle conditions  during both resting (3±13%; 19±26%) and potentiated (1±15%; 2±20%) twitch
contractions. Conclusions: The mechanism for reduced HRT in fresh and fatigued skeletal muscle following BA supplementation is unclear. Due to the importance of muscle relaxation on total energy consumption, especially during short, repeated contractions, BA supplementation may prove to be beneficial in minimising contractile slowing induced by fatigue. Trial registration The trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, ID number NCT02819505.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	European Journal of Applied Physiology
Creators:	Jones, R.L., Barnett, C.T., Davidson, J., Maritza, B., Fraser, W.D., Harris, R. and Sale, C.
Publisher:	Springer
Date:	27 March 2017
ISSN:	1439-6319
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1007/s00421-017-3569-1 DOI
Rights:	© The Author(s) 2017. This article is an open access publication.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jill Tomkinson
Date Added:	31 Mar 2017 09:58
Last Modified:	27 Mar 2018 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/30469

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