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

Jones, Rebecca Louise, Barnett, Cleveland Thomas, Davidson, Joel, Maritza, Billy, Fraser, William D, Harris, Roger and Sale, Craig (2017) β-alanine supplementation improves in-vivo fresh and fatigued skeletal muscle relaxation speed. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117 (5). 867–879. 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 (Ca(2+)) handling. Accumulation of hydrogen cation (H(+)) has been shown to impact Ca(2+) signalling during muscular contraction, carnosine has the potential to serve as a cytoplasmic regulator of Ca(2+) 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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	contractile properties,electrical stimulation,muscle fatigue,carnosine,sdg 7 - affordable and clean energy ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Musculoskeletal Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Metabolic Health
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	04 Apr 2017 05:29
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2023 01:58
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/63161
DOI:	10.1007/s00421-017-3569-1

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