Ingestion of Beta-alanine Effects in Well-trained Tennis Players

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Beta-alanine is considered as ergogenic aids with good to strong evidence for improving sports performance in specific sports context scenarios. However, most of the studies has been realized in endurance, with limited evidence in intermittent sports, especially in racket sports. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of 4-weeks ingestion of beta-alanine on neuromuscular performance in well-trained tennis players.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Fourteen tennis players (23.3 ±3.7 years) between 50-250 national tennis ranking participated in this study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups that realized a neuromuscular battery after beta-alanine (4.8 gr/daily during 4-weeks) or placebo (i.e., fructose) (4.8 grams/daily during 4-weeks). Before and after the supplementation period tennis performed a neuromuscular test battery in a tennis court consisted in different test such as; serve velocity, countermovement jump, isometric handgrip strength, 10-m sprint, modified 5-0-5 agility test and repeated sprint ability. After 48 h of the realization of neuromuscular test battery, tennis players performed VO2max consumption test (i.e., treadmill).

Official Title
-----------------
Ingestion of Beta-alanine Improves Neuromuscular Performance in Well-trained Tennis. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Conditions
-----------------
Beta-alanine, Placebo

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Dietary Supplement: Beta-alanine supplementation


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Well-trained tennis players, between 18-35 years old (50-200 between tennis ranking) Exclusion Criteria: Suffering from any chronic pathology or an injury in the month prior to the investigation. Intolerance to beta-alanine ingestion Amateur tennis players.

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Beta-alanine supplementation<br>Beta-alanine (4.8 grams) pills (Crown Nutrition, Haro, Spain) in four doses each day during a 4-week supplementation period. | Dietary Supplement: Beta-alanine supplementation<br>* In a randomized order, two groups (n=7) was randomly assigned to beta-alanine and placebo during a 4-weeks period<br>* Other names: Placebo supplementation;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo supplementation<br>Placebo (4.8 grams) pills (Crown Nutrition, Haro, Spain) contain fructose (300mg) and excipients (1200 mg) such as cellulose, calcium phosphate, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate in four doses each day during a 4-week supplementation period. | Dietary Supplement: Beta-alanine supplementation<br>* In a randomized order, two groups (n=7) was randomly assigned to beta-alanine and placebo during a 4-weeks period<br>* Other names: Placebo supplementation;|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Repeated sprint ability test. | Infrared photocells system (Microgate, Italy) | 4-weeks | 
| VO2 max treadmill test | Using VO2 max analyzer (Ergostik, Geratherm Respiratory, Ergostik, Geratherm, Germany) | 4-weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Serve velocity | Stroke velocity radar gun (Radar Pocket, South Korea) | 4-weeks | 
| Contermovement Jump | Contact Jump (Chronojump, Spain) | 4-weeks | 
| 10m sprint | Infrared photocells system (Microgate, Italy) | 4-weeks | 
| Isometric handgrip strength | Hand held dynamometer (Takei, Japan) | 4-weeks | 
| Modified agility test 5-0-5 | Infrared photocells system (Microgate, Italy) | 4-weeks |