Effect of 8-Week β-Alanine Supplementation on CRP, IL-6, Body Composition, and Bio-Motor Abilities in Elite Male Basketball Players

Ioan Turcu, Bogdan Oancea (), Mihaela Chicomban, Gabriel Simion, Sorin Simon, Codruța Ioana Negriu Tiuca, Mircea Nicolae Ordean, Alexandru Gabriel Petrovici, Nicoleta Adina Nicolescu Șeușan, Petronela Lăcrămioara Hăisan, Ioan Teodor Hășmășan, Alexandru Ioan Hulpuș, Iulian Stoian, Cătălin Vasile Ciocan and Ioana Maria Curițianu
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Ioan Turcu: Department of Motor Performance, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Bogdan Oancea: Department of Motor Performance, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Mihaela Chicomban: Department of Motor Performance, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Gabriel Simion: Department of Motor Performance, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Sorin Simon: Department of Physical Education and Sport, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Codruța Ioana Negriu Tiuca: Department of Physical Education and Sport, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Mircea Nicolae Ordean: Department of Physical Education and Sport, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Alexandru Gabriel Petrovici: Department of Physical Education and Sport, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Nicoleta Adina Nicolescu Șeușan: Department of Physical Education and Sport, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Petronela Lăcrămioara Hăisan: Department of Physical Education and Sport, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Ioan Teodor Hășmășan: Department of Environmental Sciences Physics Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Science, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
Alexandru Ioan Hulpuș: Department of Environmental Sciences Physics Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Science, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
Iulian Stoian: Department of Environmental Sciences Physics Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Science, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
Cătălin Vasile Ciocan: Department of Physical Education and Sports Performance, Faculty of Physical Education, Sport and Health Sciences, Vasile Alecsandri of Bacau, 600115 Bacau, Romania
Ioana Maria Curițianu: Department of Physical Education and Special Motricity, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week β-alanine supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), body composition, and bio-motor abilities in elite male basketball players. Twenty male basketball players (age: 23 + 0.6 years; body mass: 78.3 + 4.8 kg; height:185.3 + 5.4 cm, %BF, 15.2 ± 4.8) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into a β-alanine group (BG, N = 10) and a placebo group (PG, N = 10). All players were preparing for university competitions and had played for over five years. Players used 6.4 g/d of β-alanine in BG and maltodextrin in PG. The participants were involved in regular basketball training three months before the study. CRP, IL-6, body composition parameters, and bio-motor abilities were measured before starting the exercises and after completing the eight-week training period. The research findings showed a significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 and an increase in anaerobic peak power between the pre-test and post-test, as well as between BG and PG groups ( p < 0.05). Although the other measured factors were a relative improvement compared to the pre-test and also compared to PG, these changes were not statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Eight weeks of β-alanine supplementation ameliorated increases in IL-6 and CRP associated with in-season physical stressors in collegiate basketball players. These changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest that β-alanine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy for immune regulation and can also improve anaerobic performance compared to PG.

Keywords: beta-alanine; pro-inflammatory; youth sports; performance; basketball (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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