Graduation Year

2024

Date of Submission

4-2024

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Reader 1

Marion Preest

Reader 2

Jenna Monroy

Abstract

Beta alanine is widely used within the fitness community as a staple component of most pre-workouts. Most who supplement with beta alanine know it only for its side effect: paresthesia, or “pins and needles” feeling across the body. However, beta alanine is widely accepted in the relevant literature as a critical component in the synthesis of carnosine, the primary intramuscular buffer against the accumulation of hydrogen and lactate ions during exercise (Hill et al, 2007). Beyond buffering capacity, as an ergogenic aid carnosine has also been shown to have antioxidative properties, and has been linked to increased sarcomeric calcium sensitivity (Artioli et al, 2010; Boldyrev, 2012). In mouse models, beta alanine supplementation has been shown to increase carnosine concentrations in the brain, as well as correlating with an increase in BDNF1 expression (Ostfeld and Hoffman, 2023). BDNF1 is a neurotrophic factor involved in stress mitigation that could potentially play a role in exercise performance. Beta alanine supplementation has been shown to attenuate the decrease in BDNF1 expression that is usually associated with physical stress induced brain inflammation (Porter and O’Conner, 2022). To determine a relationship between increased brain carnosine concentration following beta alanine supplementation and increased athletic performance, a double blind human study will be conducted. It is hypothesized that there will be a correlation between increased brain carnosine concentrations following beta alanine supplementation and improved performance in a high intensity exercise test. This study may support the hypothesis that beta alanine supplementation is associated with increased psychological resilience.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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