The Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Body Composition Indices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Clinical Trials

Masoud  Khorshidi; Sanaz  Jamshidi; Javad  Heshmati; Zohreh Sajadi  Hezaveh; Beheshteh  Olang; Omid Moradi  Moghaddam; Zahra  Shahveghar; Zohreh  Ghoreishi; Alireza  Ostadrahimi; Meysam  Zarezadeh

doi:10.18502/jnfs.v9i4.16907

Masoud Khorshidi Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sanaz Jamshidi Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Javad Heshmati Department of Nutritional Science, School of Nutritional Science and Food Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Zohreh Sajadi Hezaveh Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Beheshteh Olang Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Omid Moradi Moghaddam Critical Care Medicine Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Shahveghar Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Zohreh Ghoreishi Nutrition Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Alireza Ostadrahimi Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Meysam Zarezadeh Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v9i4.16907

Keywords: Beta alanine; Weight; Obesity; Body composition; Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Beta-alanine is an important oral supplement for improving athletes’ performance, followed by probable effects on body composition. Current meta-analysis was performed to investigate the role of beta-alanine supplementation on body weight, fat mass, free fat mass, and body fat percentage in adults. Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library databases, and EMBASE were searched between January 1990 and May 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing beta-alanine supplementation with a placebo assessing anthropometric indices were included. Meta‐analysis was performed using the random‐effects model. Publication bias was evaluated using standard methods, and subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were carried out. Results: A total of 875 articles were identified through database searching, of which 12 RCTs with 15 datasets were included in the study. This study showed that beta-alanine supplementation did not have any significant effect on body weight [SMD, 0.08; 95% CI (−0.17, 0.33); P=0.517], fat percentage [SMD, 0.09; 95% CI (−0.18, 0.37); P=0.504], fat mass [SMD, 0.10; 95% CI (−0.29, 0.50); P=0.612], and fat free mass [SMD, 0.16; 95% CI (−0.18, 0.49); P=0.517]. Conclusions: Results showed that beta-alanine supplementation does not change body composition significantly.