High-dose beta-alanine supplementation for two weeks did not enhance intermittent endurance or sprint performance in trained futsal players

Authors

• Hossein Miraftabi, University of Tehran
• Erfan Berjisian, Edith Cowan University
• Marzieh Nouri Dizicheh, Islamic Azad University, Iran
• Alireza Naderi, Islamic Azad University, Iran
• Masoud Bodaghi, University of Isfahan
• Majid Koozehchian, Jacksonville State University
• Fatemeh Shabkhiz, University of Tehran
• Alvaro Lopez-Samanes, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas

Department

Health Professions & Wellness

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a high-dose beta-alanine (BA) supplementation on physical performance, blood lactate concentration, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in trained futsal players. Methods: Sixteen trained futsal players participated in a randomized, parallel, double- blind experiment, completing a two-week supplementation period with either 12 g/day of BA (n = 8; age: 19 ± 2 years; height: 1.78 ± 0.03 m; body mass: 68.5 ± 5.4 kg) or a placebo (PLA) (n = 8; age: 18 ± 1 years; height: 1.74 ± 0.08 m; body mass: 65.6 ± 6.4 kg). Athletes completed the futsal intermittent endurance test (FIET) and a 30-m speed test before and after supplementation. Plasma lactate levels were measured before, immediately after, and three minutes post-FIET, while RPE was assessed during each FIET stage. Results: There was a significant main effect of time for distance covered in the FIET (Pre-BA: 1618.13 ± 268.14 m; Post-BA: 1857.50 ± 277.81 m; Pre-PLA: 1519.13 ± 243.19 m; Post-PLA: 1621.88 ± 323.65 m; p = 0.003; ηp tion effect was revealed for FIET (p = 0.147; ηp 2 2 = 0.73), while no significant interac = 0.27). Furthermore, no significant interaction effects were found in the 30-m sprint test (p = 0.149; ηp 2 = 0.27, Pre-BA: 4.33 ± 0.25 s; Post-BA: 4.22 ± 0.124 s; Pre-PLA: 4.33 ± 0.26 s; Post-PLA: 4.37 ± 0.22 s). Neither plasma lactate levels nor RPE showed significant main effects of treatment or timepoint (all p > 0.5). Conclusion: Two weeks of high-dose BA supplementation did not have an ergogenic impact on the distance covered during the intermittent endurance test, sprint performance, blood lactate, or RPE in trained futsal players.

Publication/Presentation Information

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 22(1), 2025, 1–11.

Recommended Citation

Miraftabi, H., Berjisian, E., Nouri Dizicheh, M., Naderi, A., Bodaghi, M., Koozehchian, M. S., Shabkhiz, F., & Lopez-Samanes, A. (2025). High-dose beta-alanine supplementation for two weeks did not enhance intermittent endurance or sprint performance in trained futsal players. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 22(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2025.2564245