Scientists and coaches seek effective ergogenic aids for performance improvement. Cyclists commonly use β-Alanine, which may enhance post-exercise recovery and physical performance. High-dose β-Alanine supplementation\'s impact on World Tour cyclists during a 7-day camp remains unstudied. This study aimed to analyse the effect of a high dose of β-alanine in World Tour cyclist during a 7-day camp. A double-blinded, randomised controlled trial was conducted. 11 cyclists were included in the final analysis: β-alanine supplementation (n = 5; VO2max: 67.6±1.6 ml/kg/min) and a placebo group (n = 6; VO2max: 68.0±2.4 ml/kg/min). The duration of the supplementation protocol was seven days with four daily intakes. The subjects commenced supplementation after the physical tests (immediately following the snack) and consumed the final intake after breakfast on the day of the final test (a total of 7 days and 3 additional doses, 31 servings in total; 5g per dosage; 155g the total cumulative amount). Before and after seven days of supplementation, the cyclists performed an uphill time trial. Blood lactate, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were measured during test. β-alanine supplementation improved the relative mean power attained during the time-trial compared with the control group (Z = -2.008; p = 0.045; Δ = 0.060), as well as the time needed to complete this trial (Z = -2.373; p = 0.018). As for physiological and metabolic variables, no significant change was found. In conclusion, the present study supports the effectiveness of one-week high dose of β-alanine during a cycling training in World Tour cyclists to improve their uphill time-trial performance. In addition, it is important to highlight the potential role of β-alanine in improving recovery power. This aspect is particularly relevant in the context of a training camp, where fatigue levels can increase alongside training intensity. Trial registration: This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov: (identifier: NCT04427319).

BACKGROUND: Warfighters, often called tactical athletes, seek dietary supplementation to enhance training and recovery. Roughly 69% of active-duty US military personnel have reported consuming dietary supplements. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the impact of dietary supplements on muscle-related physical performance and recovery in active-duty military personnel.
METHODS: Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental controlled trials of oral dietary supplementation in active-duty military members were examined. A protocol was registered (PROSPERO CRD42023401472), and a systematic search of MEDLINE and CINAHL was undertaken. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies published between 1990-2023 with outcomes of muscle performance and recovery among active-duty military populations. The risk of bias was assessed with the McMaster University Guidelines and Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies.
RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Four were conducted on protein or carbohydrate; four on beta-alanine alone, creatine alone, or in combination; two on mixed nutritional supplements; two on probiotics alone or in combination with beta hydroxy-beta methylbutyrate calcium; and four on phytonutrient extracts including oregano, beetroot juice, quercetin, and resveratrol. Ten examined outcomes related to physical performance, and six on outcomes of injury or recovery. Overall, protein, carbohydrate, beta-alanine, creatine, and beetroot juice modestly improved performance, while quercetin did not. Protein, carbohydrates, beta-alanine, probiotics, and oregano reduced markers of inflammation, while resveratrol did not.
CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition supplementation may have small benefits on muscle performance and recovery in warfighters. However, there are significant limitations in interpretation due to the largely inconsistent evidence of ingredients and comparable outcomes. Thus, there is inadequate practical evidence to suggest how dietary supplementation may affect field performance.

Thank you very much for your comment [...].

The paper by Cesak et al [...].

BACKGROUND: β-alanine, a non-essential amino acid found in the diet and produced through nucleotide catabolism, is significant for muscle performance due to its role in carnosine synthesis. This study aims to assess the impact of a 4-week β-alanine supplementation on neuromuscular fatigue in individuals engaging in High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) and its subsequent effect on sports performance, distinguishing between central fatigue from the CNS and peripheral fatigue from the muscular system.
METHODS: This study (a randomized controlled trial) comprised a total of 27 subjects, who were divided into two groups. Group A (the control group) was administered sucrose powder, while Group B (the experimental group) was given β-alanine powder. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control groups. This study lasted four weeks, during which both groups participated in high-intensity interval training (HIFT) on the first day to induce fatigue and work close to their VO2 max.
RESULTS: Statistically significant changes were in the sports performance variables, specifically vertical jump and jumping power (p = 0.027). These changes were observed only in the group that had been supplemented with β-alanine. Nevertheless, no alterations were observed in any other variables, including fatigue, metabolic intensity of exercise, or perceived intensity (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: A four-week β-alanine intake program demonstrated an improvement in the capacity of subjects, as evidenced by enhanced vertical jump and power performance. Nevertheless, it does result in discernible alterations in performance.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the long-term adjunctive use of netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02% in lowering IOP in patients with refractory glaucoma.
METHODS: This retrospective chart review study was conducted at a tertiary care center. Patients who were prescribed add-on netarsudil therapy and on ≥ 3 topical glaucoma medications from 01/01/2018 to 08/31/2020 were reviewed. 47 patients (69 eyes) met the inclusion criteria. Baseline IOPs prior to the addition of netarsudil were compared to IOPs measured at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals. Any patients with inadequate follow-up or who had glaucoma surgery after netarsudil initiation were excluded.
RESULTS: Median baseline IOP (± SD) was 21 ± 5.8 mmHg (median of 2 visits prior to initiation of netarsudil). At 3-month follow-up, 64 eyes had a median IOP of 16 ± 6.7 mmHg (p < 0.01). At 6-month follow-up, 56 eyes had a median IOP of 18 ± 4.6 mmHg (p < 0.01). At 12-month follow-up, 44 eyes had a median IOP of 15 ± 6.8 mmHg (p < 0.01). At the conclusion of the study, 64% of eyes reached 1 year follow-up due to several reasons.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with refractory glaucoma showed statistically and clinically significant IOP reductions on netarsudil. IOP reduction was stable long-term with the largest decrease in IOP seen at 12 months. Although some patients will still go on to require further laser or incisional surgery, for most patients netarsudil is an effective treatment for adjunctive use in refractory glaucoma.

This study aimed to elucidate the impact of combining Beta-Alanine (BA) supplementation with short sprint interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness, anaerobic power, and bio-motor abilities in volleyball players. Twenty young male athletes were randomly divided into 2 equal groups and performed 8 weeks of short sprint interval training while supplementing 4.8 g daily BA or placebo (polydextrose). The players were evaluated for volleyball-specific bio-motor abilities (vertical jump, horizontal jump, spike jump, block jump, 10-m linear sprint, and T-test change of direction speed) and physiological parameters (cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power) pre- and post-intervention. Both groups demonstrated significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvements in all measured variables over time. A time-regimen interaction was observed in jumping ability enhancement from pre- to post-training, wherein BA elicited more significant changes in both vertical and horizontal jumps compared to the placebo. Analyzing residuals in changes and the coefficient of variations (CV) in mean group changes demonstrated that BA supplementation results in uniformly inducing adaptive changes among individuals. Therefore, in light of these results, it is recommended that coaches and trainers take into consideration the utilization of BA as an ergogenic aid to enhance the vertical and horizontal jumps of volleyball players and increase the homogeneity in adaptive responses over the training period.

Carnosine is a physiologically important molecule in normal human body functions. Chicken meat is an excellent source of carnosine; especially slow-growing Korat chicken (KR) females have a high carnosine content in their meat. The carnosine content of chicken meat can be increased by dietary supplementation of β-alanine (βA) and L-histidine (L-His). Our objective was to reveal the pathways and genes through jejunal transcriptomic profiling related to βA and L-His absorption and transportation. We collected whole jejunum samples from 5 control and 5 experimental KR chicken, fed with 1% βA and 0.5% L-His supplementation. A total of 407 differentially expressed genes (P < 0.05, log2 fold change ≥2) were identified, 272 of which were down-regulated and 135 up-regulated in the group with dietary supplementation compared to the control group. Based on the integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway maps, 87 gene ontology terms were identified and 6 KEGG pathways were significantly (P < 0.05) enriched in the jejunum. The analyses revealed 6 key genes, KCND3, OPRM1, CCK, GCG, TRH, and GABBR2, that are related to neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and the calcium signaling pathway. These findings give insight regarding the molecular mechanism related to carnosine precursor absorption and transportation in the jejunum and help to identify useful molecular markers for improving the carnosine content in slow-growing KR chicken meat.

Recently, β-alanine (BA) supplementation was shown to improve cognitive function in older adults with decreased cognitive function. Mechanisms supporting these improvements have not been well defined. This study examined the effects of 10-weeks of BA supplementation on changes in circulating brain inflammatory markers, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and brain morphology. Twenty participants were initially randomized into BA (2.4 g·d-1) or placebo (PL) groups. At each testing session, participants provided a resting blood sample and completed the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test and magnetic resonance imaging, which included diffusion tensor imaging to assess brain tissue integrity. Only participants that scored at or below normal for the MoCA assessment were analyzed (6 BA and 4 PL). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine Δ (POST-PRE) differences between the groups. No differences in Δ scores were noted in any blood marker (BDNF, CRP, TNF-α and GFAP). Changes in fractional anisotropy scores were significantly greater for BA than PL in the right hippocampus (p = 0.033) and the left amygdala (p = 0.05). No other differences were noted. The results provide a potential mechanism of how BA supplementation may improve cognitive function as reflected by improved tissue integrity within the hippocampus and amygdala.

The role of thermally generated 3-aminopropionamide as an intermediate in acrylamide formation in the Maillard reaction has been well established. Herein, the effect of epicatechin on the conversion of 3-aminopropionamide into acrylamide under oxidative conditions was investigated at 160-220 °C. Epicatechin promoted acrylamide generation and 3-aminopropionamide degradation. The stable isotope-labeling technique combined with UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS analysis showed adduct formation between 3-aminopropionamide and the oxidized B ring of epicatechin to form a Schiff base. This initially formed Schiff base could directly degrade to acrylamide, undergo reduction or dehydration to other intermediates, and subsequently generate acrylamide. Based on accurate mass analysis, five intermediates with intact or dehydrated C rings were tentatively identified. Furthermore, reaction pathways were proposed that were supported by the changes in the levels of adducts formed during heating. To the authors\' knowledge, this study is the first to reveal pathways through which flavanols promoted the formation of acrylamide in Maillard reactions.