Effect of β-alanine on the athletic performance and blood amino acid metabolism of speed-racing Yili horses.
Authors: Li Xiaobin, Ma Jun, Li Haiying, Li Hai, Ma Yuhui, Deng Haifeng, Yang Kailun
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: β-alanine Supplementation in Speed Racing Horses Thirty days of β-alanine supplementation (300 mg/kg bodyweight daily) improved 1,000 m race performance in Yili horses by 12.01%, with the supplemented group completing the distance 13.29 seconds faster than controls receiving α-alanine. The researchers tracked plasma amino acid profiles, blood gas parameters, and antioxidant markers in twelve young stallions before and after racing, finding that β-alanine accumulated progressively in the plasma of the treatment group whilst suppressing the catabolic breakdown of muscle amino acids during high-intensity exercise. Beyond performance gains, β-alanine supplementation elevated critical antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity—whilst significantly reducing malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative stress) immediately post-race, indicating enhanced cellular protection and faster recovery. For racing professionals, these findings suggest that β-alanine may offer a legitimate ergogenic strategy for speed horses, particularly in modulating the inflammatory and oxidative stress response to high-intensity exertion, though further work across different breeds and dosing protocols would strengthen the evidence base for practical application.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •β-alanine supplementation at 300 mg/kg BW/day for 30 days can meaningfully improve racing performance in speed horses, reducing race times by ~13 seconds per 1,000 m
- •This supplement appears to reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and accelerate recovery by boosting antioxidant defenses and stabilizing blood pH during intense effort
- •Consider β-alanine supplementation as part of a pre-competition nutrition protocol for racing Yili horses, particularly those competing in high-intensity, short-duration events
Key Findings
- •β-alanine supplementation (300 mg/kg BW/day for 30 days) improved 1,000 m race performance by 12.01%, with horses completing the race 13.29 seconds faster than control group
- •β-alanine significantly increased plasma carnosine and histidine levels, enhancing blood buffering capacity and accelerating post-exercise blood gas recovery
- •β-alanine supplementation increased antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity) while decreasing malondialdehyde (oxidation product) by an extremely significant margin
- •β-alanine inhibited amino acid catabolism during high-intensity exercise, with 10 marker amino acids showing statistically significant changes between treatment groups