β-Alanine for Kickboxing Anaerobic Performance

Summary

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial will evaluate whether four weeks of β-alanine (BA) supplementation improves sport-specific anaerobic performance, neuromuscular power, and strength endurance in trained male kickboxers. β-Alanine is the rate-limiting precursor for skeletal muscle carnosine, an intramuscular buffer that can attenuate exercise-induced acidosis during repeated high-intensity efforts. Because kickboxing involves brief, repeated striking sequences with high glycolytic demand, BA may represent a practical, legal ergogenic aid for this population.

Twenty-eight adult male kickboxers will be randomized (stratified) to BA (6.4 g·day-¹) or placebo for 4 weeks while maintaining habitual training and diet. Assessments will occur at baseline and post-intervention under standardized laboratory conditions and time-of-day control. The primary outcome is the total time on the Kickboxing Anaerobic Speed Test (KASTtotal; five consecutive sets of a validated four-technique striking combination with 10-s passive recovery). Secondary outcomes include best single-set time (KASTbest), individual set times (KAST₁-₅), Performance Decrement Index (PDI), countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) height, and upper-body strength endurance (maximal push-ups and pull-ups performed to strict standards). Timing is determined from 25-fps video with frame-level analysis; jump height is derived via a validated smartphone application.

Adverse events-particularly transient paresthesia-will be monitored throughout. The main analysis will use two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (group × time) with partial eta-squared to quantify effects; assumption checks and correction procedures will be applied as appropriate. BA will yield greater improvements than placebo in KASTtotal and upper-body strength endurance, with limited changes expected for jump performance.

Conditions

• Athletic Performance Enhancement (Kickboxing)
• Anaerobic Performance
• Strength Endurance
• Neuromuscular Power
• Nutritional Supplementation (β-Alanine)

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

β-Alanine

Participants in the experimental group will receive 6.4 grams of β-alanine per day for 4 weeks, administered orally in four divided doses (1.6 g each). The supplement used is a commercially available β-alanine formulation (Hardline Nutrition, Türkiye), standardized for purity and active ingredient content. The dosing protocol follows established guidelines from prior ergogenic studies in athletes. Supplementation is supervised by the research team, and adherence is monitored weekly.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Rice Flour (Placebo)

Participants in the placebo group will receive 6.4 grams of rice flour per day for 4 weeks, divided into four equal doses (1.6 g each) and identical in appearance, packaging, and flavor to the β-alanine supplement. The placebo is prepared and coded by an independent staff member to maintain double-blind conditions. All participants consume their assigned supplement orally each day under the same schedule, maintaining their normal training and diet routines.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Salih ÇABUK

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-30

Primary Completion

2025-05-30

Completion

2025-06-04

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations