Beta-alanine and strength and power output: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: No effect.

C Limited

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: Limited, mixed: meta-analyses in healthy populations are null for repeated-sprint power and non-significant or context-specific for sprint and jump, but maximal strength has no meta-analysis and a 2025 review found inconsistent results with some positive findings, so N would overstate the null for strength (editor ruling 2026-11-11)

A 2026 preregistered multilevel meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials in healthy people found no significant effect on mean or peak repeated-sprint performance or fatigue, regardless of dose, duration or training status. A 2026 network meta-analysis of 52 trials in athletes found non-significant or context-specific effects of beta-alanine on sprint, jump and related outcomes, and a 2012 meta-analysis found no benefit for exercise lasting under 60 seconds. A 2025 review of 9 studies in trained people found results inconsistent, with some positive findings at 4-6.4 g/day in divided servings, and a review in older adults found no improvement in strength.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.

Show the numbers

Study	Year	Design	Participants	Result
Hobson 2012	2012	meta-analysis	360	result not recorded
Beta-Alanine for Improving Exercise 2025	2025	meta-analysis	163	result not recorded
Ong 2025	2025	meta-analysis	197	result not recorded
Bai 2026	2026	meta-analysis	not recorded	result not recorded
Liang 2026	2026	meta-analysis	not recorded	result not recorded
Gu 2026	2026	meta-analysis	312	result not recorded

Beta-Alanine for Improving Exercise Capacity, Muscle Strength, and Functional Performance of Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

de Camargo JBB, Brigatto FA. Beta-Alanine for Improving Exercise Capacity, Muscle Strength, and Functional Performance of Older Adults: A Systematic Review J Aging Phys Act, 2025. PMID 39724872

Result not recorded

Design: Systematic review of 5 trials (no meta-analysis)
Sample: n = 163
Population: Older adults (mean age 69.1)
Funding: Not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Dosing strategies for β-alanine supplementation in strength and power performance: a systematic review.

Ong SW, Chen WL, Chien KY. Dosing strategies for β-alanine supplementation in strength and power performance: a systematic review J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2025. PMID 40995761

Result not recorded

Design: Systematic review of 9 studies (no meta-analysis)
Sample: n = 197
Population: Trained individuals (resistance-trained)
Funding: No funding (full text); no conflict of interest reported

Effects of combined versus single supplementation of creatine and beta-alanine on aerobic and anerobic performance: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Bai X, Xu T. Effects of combined versus single supplementation of creatine and beta-alanine on aerobic and anerobic performance: a systematic review and network meta-analysis J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2026. PMID 42384726

Result not recorded

Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of 52 randomized controlled trials
Population: Healthy adult athletes
Funding: Not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

No ergogeniceffect of β-alanine on repeated sprint ability: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Liang W, Kong D, Wang Y. No ergogeniceffect of β-alanine on repeated sprint ability: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Front Nutr, 2026. PMID 41971372

Result not recorded

Design: Systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials (PROSPERO CRD420261304011)
Population: Healthy populations
Funding: Sport Science and Technology Innovation Programme (General Administration of Sport of China) and other public research funds; no commercial conflicts declared

Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on exercise performance and related physiological outcomes in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gu J, Wei Y, Huang J. Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on exercise performance and related physiological outcomes in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis Front Nutr, 2026. PMID 42370349

Result not recorded

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials (PROSPERO CRD420261362733)
Sample: n = 312
Population: Women
Funding: Not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; authors declare no commercial or financial conflicts

Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis.

Hobson RM, Saunders B, Ball G. Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis Amino Acids, 2012. PMID 22270875

Result not recorded

Design: Meta-analysis of 15 published studies
Sample: n = 360
Population: Healthy adults in exercise trials
Funding: Not stated; authors declare no conflict of interest (full text)

Search and history

Search (November 11, 2026): (beta-alanine[ti] OR β-alanine[ti]) AND (strength[tiab] OR power[tiab] OR "one-repetition"[tiab]) AND (meta-analysis[pt] OR systematic review[pt])

November 12, 2026 Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
November 13, 2026 C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page