Effects of Four Weeks of Beta-Alanine Supplementation Combined with One Week of Creatine Loading on Physical and Cognitive Performance in Military Personnel.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether adding a 7-day creatine loading protocol to four weeks of β-alanine supplementation enhances physical performance, cognitive function, and hormonal responses compared to β-alanine alone.
Results Summary
The study found that combining β-alanine with creatine significantly improved physical performance, vertical jump, testosterone levels, and cognitive processing compared to β-alanine alone, with no changes observed in the placebo group.
Population
20 male military personnel (age 21.5 ± 1.5 years, BMI 23.7 ± 1.64 kg/m²).
Effective Dosage
6.4 g/day of β-alanine for 28 days, with creatine added at 0.3 g/kg/day for the final 7 days in the experimental group.
Duration
28 days (with creatine intervention in the final 7 days).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) | increase | physical performance | male military personnel | - | significant improvement | #1 |
7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) | increase | mathematical processing | male military personnel | - | significant improvement | #2 |
β-alanine supplementation (BA) + placebo (PL) | no change | physical performance | male military personnel | - | no change | #3 |
β-alanine supplementation (BA) + placebo (PL) | no change | mathematical processing | male military personnel | - | no change | #4 |
7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) | increase | vertical jump performance | male military personnel | - | significantly higher | #5 |
7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) | increase | testosterone | male military personnel | - | significantly higher | #6 |
Cr loading during the final week of BA supplementation (28 days) | increase | muscular power | male military personnel | - | enhanced | #7 |
Cr loading during the final week of BA supplementation (28 days) | increase | muscular strength | male military personnel | - | appears to be superior | #8 |
Cr loading during the final week of BA supplementation (28 days) | increase | cognitive performance | male military personnel | - | appears to be superior | #9 |
The purpose was to investigate the effects of a 7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) on physical performance, blood lactate, cognitive performance, and resting hormonal concentrations compared to BA alone. Twenty male military personnel (age: 21.5 ± 1.5 yrs; height: 1.78 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 78.5 ± 7.0 kg; BMI: 23.7 ± 1.64 kg/m2) were recruited and randomized into two groups: BA + Cr or BA + placebo (PL). Participants in each group (n = 10 per group) were supplemented with 6.4 g/day of BA for 28 days. After the third week, the BA + Cr group participants were also supplemented with Cr (0.3 g/kg/day), while the BA + PL group ingested an isocaloric placebo for 7 days. Before and after supplementation, each participant performed a battery of physical and cognitive tests and provided a venous blood sample to determine resting testosterone, cortisol, and IGF-1. Furthermore, immediately after the last physical test, blood lactate was assessed. There was a significant improvement in physical performance and mathematical processing in the BA + Cr group over time (p < 0.05), while there was no change in the BA + PL group. Vertical jump performance and testosterone were significantly higher in the BA + Cr group compared to BA + PL. These results indicate that Cr loading during the final week of BA supplementation (28 days) enhanced muscular power and appears to be superior for muscular strength and cognitive performance compared to BA supplementation alone.