Why Does Beta-Alanine Make You Itch? Can You Cease The Tingle?

For its assist enhancing train efficiency, delaying muscular fatigue, and elevating general endurance, beta-alanine — a key ingredient in Beachbody Efficiency Energize — has gained consideration as a complement lately. However there’s a unusual facet impact that some folks expertise whereas supplementing with this amino acid: the beta-alanine itch or tingle.

“The feeling is commonly described as ‘pins and needles’ poking underneath the pores and skin, which generally is a bit nerve-wracking for individuals who’ve by no means used beta-alanine earlier than,” says Elliot Reimers, a NASM-certified diet coach.

“There’s a false impression that this is likely to be harmful, or one way or the other inflicting long-damage to your nerves or muscle tissue, however that’s merely not true, even at increased doses.”

Why Does Beta-Alanine Make You Tingle?

Scientists and researchers don’t have a definitive reply for what causes beta-alanine tingling — thought of a type of paresthesia — however there’s proof to assist one main speculation, says Melissa Morris, ACSM-certified train physiologist and ISSN-certified sports activities nutritionist.

The speculation she relays is that beta-alanine prompts G-protein-coupled receptors, that are answerable for transmitting alerts all through your central nervous system, and particularly on the pores and skin.

In different phrases, the amino acid fires up your nerve endings in a manner that causes that beta-alanine tingle and itch, however not sufficient to trigger precise ache.

Remember that it is a facet impact, fairly than a major impact, Morris provides. “Beta-alanine acts on the mobile stage to maintain the pH inside the muscle from getting too acidic, which contributes to fatigue. Subsequently, beta-alanine delays neuromuscular fatigue, which provides efficiency advantages. The itch, or tingle, is simply one thing to place up with in your approach to getting these advantages.”

How Lengthy Does the Beta-Alanine Tingle Final?

The size of time throughout which you’ll really feel these pins and needles can fluctuate relying in your expertise. Reimers says, some folks might really feel this impact for just some minutes. Others may need it for an hour. Some might by no means expertise it in any respect.

The tingling sensation begins within the neck, shoulders, and arms about quarter-hour after you’re taking it, in line with ISSA-certified nutritionist and private coach Jamie Hickey. For most individuals, the feeling begins to fade inside half-hour, he provides.

Can You Cease the Beta-Alanine Itch?

If you happen to’ve been taking beta-alanine in your pre-workout complement for some time and also you merely can’t get used to that tingling feeling, there are methods to reduce the feeling. You would possibly even have the ability to cease it utterly.

The primary technique is to separate up your doses, Reimers advises. He suggests taking smaller quantities all through the day as a substitute of taking one giant dose simply earlier than hitting the fitness center. This could considerably scale back the beta-alanine tingling you expertise.

You may as well strive lowering your dosage. See in the event you nonetheless get outcomes when it comes to athletic efficiency with out feeling itchy.

Taking part in round with tips on how to use beta-alanine most successfully is definitely worth the bother, Hickey believes. He thinks beta-alanine supplementation lives as much as its status.

“The vast majority of dietary supplements available on the market are over-hyped and ineffective,” he says. “Beta-alanine, nonetheless, stands out as one of many few merchandise that continues to point out stable science to again up its effectiveness in serving to athletes and bodybuilders attain their health objectives. And that’s price a little bit tingling.”