Since all players were involved in an identical training structure throughout the supplementation period, the further increases in these subjects could be attributed to an increased ability to train due to increased muscle buffering capacity [7], providing an additive effect over supplementation alone. We chose to supplement amateur footballers during a competitive season as the YoYo IR2 has been shown to be sensitive to seasonal variation (CV: 14%; [13]) with scores, on average, lower during the season than at the start. Although mid-season scores were not different from the start of the season for First Division Scandinavian footballers, YoYo IR2 performance was decreased at the end of the season

compared to the start of the season in another group of First and Second division players [13]. Furthermore, Selleck CUDC-907 only Selleckchem GDC0068 4 out of 15 players improved their YoYo IR2 performance during the season, while a further 9 showed a performance decrement [13]. In the present investigation,

performance for players in the placebo group supplemented from early to mid-season followed a similar pattern to this, and all 3 supplemented from the middle until the end of the season showed a decline in performance. In contrast, all players supplemented with β-alanine from early- to mid-season improved their YoYo scores, while 2 of the 3 supplemented from mid-season until the end of the season showed a performance improvement, with the remaining player unchanged. These data provide evidence to suggest that β-alanine supplementation can not only halt the decline in fitness levels shown during a competitive season[13], but may even improve them above typical levels. Conclusions The ingestion of 3.2 g·d-1 β-alanine over 12 weeks improved YoYo Nintedanib (BIBF 1120) IR2 performance in amateur footballers during a competitive season. Improvements can be attributed to an increase in muscle buffering capacity due to increased muscle carnosine concentration, attenuating the decline in intramuscular pH during repeated high-intensity

exercise bouts. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Natural Alternatives International, San Marcos, California for providing the β-alanine (Carnosyn™) and Maltodextrin supplements. References 1. Harris RC, Tallon M, Dunnett M, Boobis LH, check details Coakley J, Kim HJ, Fallowfield JL, Hill CA, Sale C, Wise JA: The absorption of orally supplied β-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis. Amino Acids 2006, 30:279–289.PubMedCrossRef 2. Bate-Smith EC: The buffering of muscle in rigour: protein, phosphate and carnosine. J Physiol 1938, 92:336–343. 3. Hill CA, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Harris BD, Sale C, Boobis LH, Kim CK, Wise JA: Influence of β-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity. Amino Acids 2008, 32:225–233.CrossRef 4. Sale C, Saunders B, Hudson S, Wise JA, Harris RC, Sunderland CD: Effect of beta-alanine plus sodium bicarbonate on high-intensity cycling capacity.