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Biological Functions

β-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that can potentially indirectly enhance performance of extremely high intensity (110% of VO2 peak), short duration (1-5 minutes) bouts of exercise. β-alanine may enhance performance by increasing intramuscular levels of another amino acid, carnosine. It is well established that acidosis can increase fatigue during exercise and therefore increasing the body’s buffering capacity may improve high-intensity, short-duration exercise performance. The importance of carnosine has been previously described by Tallon et al., who reported carnosine concentrations in body builders of 40 mmol/kg dry mass compared to the average human of 16 mmol/kg dry mass. Tallon et al. estimated carnosine to account for 20% of total buffering capacity in body builders compared to 10% in the typical population. In theory, if an athlete of any age increases the amount of carnosine present in skeletal muscle, they can enhance their ability to buffer acidic concentrations during high-intensity exercise and thus delay fatigue.

Preparation

Acrylonitrile and ammonia react in a solution of diphenylamine and t-butanol to create beta-aminopropionitrile, which is then alkalized to obtain beta-aminopropionic acid. In a dry autoclave, sequentially add acrylonitrile, diphenylamine and t- butanol, and stir for 5min. Then, add liquid ammonia, maintain the temperature at 100-109℃ and pressure at 1MPa, and stir for 4h. Cool to below 10℃ and stop mixing when the pressure reaches atmospheric pressure. At 65-70℃/(8.0-14.7kPa), decrease the pressure to recover t-butanol to obtain crude beta-aminopropionitrile. Distill the crude product under low pressure, collect the 66-105℃/（1.33-4.0kPa） distillation to obtain beta-aminopropionitrile, and maintain temperature for 1h. Steam under low pressure for half an hour to remove the ammonia in the reaction solution, add water, and drop in hydrochloric until PH reaches 7-7.2. Filter to remove trace impurities. Concentrate the filtered liquid until a large amount of solid precipitates, extract while hot and cool to below 10℃. Filter and vacuum dry to obtain beta-aminopropionic acid. This method requires 982kg beta-aminopropionitrile for every ton of product, and the yield of alkalization is 90%. Place the alkaline sodium hypochlorite solution obtained from degradation of succinimide (Hoc reaction) (containing 14% sodium hypochlorite, 8% sodium hydroxide, 30% sodium carbonate) and ice into a reaction chamber, mix and add succinimide, and let react at 18-25℃ for 0.5h. Increase temperature to 40-50℃ and allow to react for 1h. Add hydrochloric acid to adjust the PH to 4-5, decrease the pressure to condense. After condensed and cooled, add 3 times the amount of 95% ethanol to allow inorganic salts to precipitate, filter, and repeat once again. Then, dilute the filtered liquid with 4 times the amount of distilled water and reflux for 1h. Add activated charcoal to remove color, filter, and pass the filtered liquid through exchange resin. Add activated charcoal to remove color, filter, decrease pressure to condense, cool to crystalize, filter, use distilled water to recrystallize once, and obtain beta-aminopropionic acid. Hydrolyze and acidify beta-aminopropionitrile to obtain.

beta-alanine dosage

A common side effect of β-alanine supplementation is paresthesia which is a sensation of tingling, burning, prickling or numbness to a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effects. An early investigation reported 10 mg/kg or approximately 800 mg of β-alanine to be the maximal single dose that could be consumed without experiencing significant symptoms of paresthesia. Moreover, β-alanine concentrations peaked 30–40 minutes following consumption and returned to baseline 3 hours following consumption. As a result, an individual supplementing with β-alanine could consume multiple doses throughout the day in 3-hour intervals. In this regard, the consumption of 6.4 g/day of β-alanine consumed in eight doses of 800 mg appears more effective at enhancing skeletal muscle carnosine levels than the consumption of 3.2 g/day of β-alanine consumed in four doses of 800 mg. Finally, controlled release capsules have been developed allowing for the single dose consumption of 1600 mg without the presentation of paresthesia, allowing users to consume fewer daily doses of β-alanine. As a result, masters athletes wishing to experiment with β-alanine should aim to consume 6.4 g/day, which can be accomplished with eight doses of 800 mg of β-alanine, or with four doses of 1600 mg with controlled release β-alanine capsules.

Flammability and Explosibility

Nonflammable

Biochem/physiol Actions

β-Alanine, a β?amino acid, is a component of pantothenic acid and the rate-limiting amino acid in the biosynthesis of the histidinyl antioxidant dipeptides carnosine and anserine. Endogenous β-amino acid that is a nonselective agonist at glycine receptors and a ligand for the G protein-coupled orphan receptor, TGR7 (MrgD). β-Alanine flux plays a cytoprotective role by supporting the osmotic stability of marine organisms, preimplantation mouse embryos and mammalian cells exposed to hypoxic stress.

Purification Methods

Crystallise β-alanine by dissolving it in a hot saturated aqueous solution, filtering, adding four volumes of absolute EtOH and cooling in an ice-bath. Recrystallise it in the same way and then finally, crystallise it from a warm saturated solution in 50% EtOH and adding four volumes of absolute EtOH with cooling in an ice-bath. The crystals are dried in a vacuum desiccator over P2O5. [Donovan & Kegeles J Am Chem Soc 83 255 1961, Beilstein 4 IV 2526.]

Definition

ChEBI: A naturally-occurring beta-amino acid comprising propionic acid with the amino group in the 3-position.

General Description

An N-blocked form of alanine.