PMID 39039103

Research
All papers

Physiological and performance adaptations to beta alanine supplementation and short sprint interval training in volleyball players

Guo W, Wang S

Question

Does beta-alanine supplementation improve physiological and volleyball-specific adaptations during 8 weeks of short sprint interval training compared with placebo?

Summary

In national-level male volleyball players, 8 weeks of running-based short sprint interval training improved jumping, sprint/change-of-direction performance, VO2max, and Wingate power in both groups; beta-alanine mainly added larger gains in vertical and horizontal jumps.

Methodology

  • Trained national-level male volleyball players.
  • 20 participants.
  • Running-based sprint intervals.
  • Work intervals: 5 s all-out running effort.
  • Recovery: 15 s between trials; 3 min self-paced rest between sets.
  • Intensity: All-out.
  • About 17 min sprint block, performed before 80-90 min volleyball practice.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled longitudinal training study
  • Jumping ability, Sprint and change of direction, VO2max, and Anaerobic power were tracked.

Outcomes

Jumping

Both groups improved jump tests; beta-alanine produced greater vertical and horizontal jump changes.

BA vs placebo percent change p=0.01 for VJ and HJ.

Improved

Sprint/COD

Both groups improved 10 m sprint and T-test performance.

Within-group p values ranged from 0.001 to 0.048.

Improved

VO2max

Both groups significantly improved VO2max.

BA p=0.001; placebo p=0.006.

Improved

Wingate power

Peak and average power improved in both groups.

PPO and APO improved within both groups; between-group differences were not significant.

Improved

Insights

  • All-out 5 s running intervals can fit sport practice for trained athletes.
  • Beta-alanine should be treated as a sport supplement variable, not as part of the exercise protocol.
  • This workload is too aggressive to translate directly to general-population app users.

Limitations

  • Small sample
  • Male volleyball athletes only
  • No no-training control group
  • Mechanistic measures such as lactate, blood pH, and EMG were not collected
  • Regular volleyball training was a co-intervention

Safety

  • No adverse events, injuries, or dropouts were reported.
  • Participants were screened for lower-body injuries and supplement/drug use, and all training sessions were monitored by a specialized strength and conditioning coach.
  • The article notes sustained-release beta-alanine was used to reduce paresthesia, but it did not report observed paresthesia rates.