There are a lot of questions surrounding the safety of dietary supplements in young athletes. Unfortunately, there is limited research data available, so the short answer is that we don't know yet. In comparison, no scientific evidence demonstrates for or against the safety of pre-workout supplements in young athletes.
Why does beta-alanine cause a tingling sensation?
“Beta-alanine acts at the cellular level to keep the pH within the muscle from getting too acidic, which contributes to fatigue. Therefore, beta-alanine delays neuromuscular fatigue, which gives performance benefits. The itch, or tingle, is just something to put up with on your way to getting those benefits.”
Is beta-alanine tingling bad?
Beta-Alanine improves the carnosine levels in your cells allowing you to perform more repetitions. While the only side effect is a tingling sensation that occurs about 15 minutes after taking Beta-Alanine, this is completely harmless. What's more, Beta-Alanine has been shown to result in muscle growth.
Can beta-alanine be harmful?
Beta-alanine supplementation currently appears to be safe in healthy populations at recommended doses. The only reported side effect is paraesthesia (i.e., tingling) but studies indicate this can be attenuated by using divided lower doses (1.6 g) or using a sustained-release formula.
Why does beta-alanine make you feel itchy?
Simply put, ingesting beta-alanine elicits certain neurons responsible for initiating itching and tingling of the skin. This sensation is referred to as paresthesia. This is a common reaction to certain ingredients in pre-workouts and there is no need to be alarmed.
What does pre-workout do scientifically?
Pre-workout supplements act as an energy boost to the system to improve athletic performance. These supplements usually contain ingredients like caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, amino acids, and nitric oxide agents that help your body push through challenging workouts.
Why is pre-workout so effective?
Almost all preworkout supplements contain creatine, which seems to boost energy production in muscle cells and also seems to draw fluids from the blood plasma into the skeletal muscle, which can improve muscle performance. Creatine supplementation has shown modest benefits in a few small trials.