Top 10 Beta-Alanine Supplements for Men and Women
Richard Haberkost
Beta-Alanine stands second only to creatine as a powerful muscle building stimulant. Beta-alanine benefits include upping the levels of carnosine in the body.
To make it easy for you to compare the best products out there, we’ve rated the top 10 based on price and effectiveness. Then we’ve provided each with an overall rating.
Carnosine acts as a buffer of hydrogen ions, which lifts pH levels and boosts energy. The bottom line is that beta-alanine staves off fatigue and increases muscle strength and power. In this article, we review the top 10 beta-alanine supplements in the 2019 market.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 16 hrs of research
100% pure b.a.
Ideal for stacking
Great value
10 Best Beta-Alanine Supplements
1. NOW Foods Beta Alanine
100% pure b.a.
Ideal for stacking
Great value
No taste
NOW Foods Beta-Alanine is a 100% pure powder. There are no other ingredients apart from beta-alanine powder.
Read moreIt contains no sugar, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives. That makes this a vegetarian-friendly product. It is a non-flavored powder that produces a neutral taste. This makes it ideal for stacking with other products, especially your pre-workout protein powder.
NOW Foods B.A is a great value product, providing a 500-gram container, which provides one hundred 5 gram servings. The powder mixes well with a spoon in water, providing no grittiness or after taste. As with any b.a. product, you will get a slight tingling sensation with this product.
2. Optimum Nutrition
4 electrolytes
Histidine
Good value
Quite expensive
Optimum Nutrition Beta-Alanine provides you with pure fortified powder with four different electrolytes and histidine.
Read moreIt enhances the carnosine synthesizing effects of the product, providing greater training energy and overall endurance. It will allow you to push harder for longer in the gym. Each serving delivers 1.6 grams of beta-alanine, and 550 milligrams of histidine. You get 75 servings from every container of ON’s B.A powder.
Each container of Optimum Nutrition powder contains unflavored powder. It mixes very well with just a spoon, delivering a smooth taste without any grittiness. You can combine this product with other training aids. Optimum Nutrition products are manufactured under the most stringent guidelines in the United States.
3. Bulk Supplements Pure Beta Alanine Powder
Pure beta-alanine
No fillers
Sealed foil zip pouch
Tingling effect
Totally pure, zero additional unwanted compounds or preservatives, great potency, tested in laboratories to ensure all you get is alanine.
Read moreA clean and pure source of beta-alanine that contains absolutely no fillers or artificial flavors. The product has been lab-tested for verification and guaranteed purity. It comes in a factory sealed foil zip pouch and is available in 100 grams, 500 grams, and one-kilogram quantities.
4. PrimaForce Beta Alanine Powder
Pure powder
Well priced
Mixes well
Not as potent as it could be
PrimaForce B.A. Powder is a pure powder that delivers an energy boost to your workout without the addition of any fillers or additives.
Read moreThis product has been lab-tested for potency and purity. It will promote lean mass gains while also allowing you to train harder with reduced fatigue. It does this by increasing intracellular carnosine levels, thereby delaying fatigue and metabolic acidosis.
You get 200 grams of powder in every container of PrimaForce B.A powder. At 5 grams per dose, this gives you 40 servings per container. It comes at a reasonable price, mixes well, and has a flavorless taste so that it can be added to other formulations. It is made in the USA under strict factory conditions.
5. WellBodyNaturals 100% Pure Beta Alanine Powder
100% pure beta-alanine
Reduces post-workout soreness
Produced under strict lab conditions
Hard to mix
Well BodyNaturals 100% Pure Beta-Alanine Powder is a 100% pure B.A. product that comes in the form of a powder.
Read moreIt is made in China under strict lab conditions. This product will allow you to increase your muscular endurance for more productive workouts. It will also lessen your post workout soreness.
The crystals that make up Pure Beta-Alanine Powder are a little large, making it a little difficult to mix the product well. You will need to stir well to avoid any powdery residue. There is no information on recommended doses on the packaging of this product, but we suggest going with 5 grams per serving. If you take any more than that you may feel nauseous.
6. Hard Rhino Beta Alanine Powder
100% pure powder
Made in USA
100 serves per packet
Slightly bitter taste
Hard Rhino Beta-Alanine Powder is a 100% pure powder that is intended to boost carnosine levels in the body.
Read moreIt will increase energy levels while working out so that you can train harder for longer. You’ll also recover faster from your training with this product. Each packet contains 500 grams of pure powder. At 5 grams per serving, you get 100 servings per packet. It is packaged in the USA under stringent lab conditions.
Hard Rhino Beta-Alanine Powder consists of fine particles that mix easily in water. That means that you can mix it in a shaker bottle or even with just a glass and spoon. The flavorless and odorless nature of this product makes it ideal for stacking with other products.
7. Purisure Beta Alanine
Completely pure
Mixes well
Sour taste
Purisure Beta-Alanine contains pure beta-alanine with no additives whatsoever. It comes in powder form and mixes easily with water or protein powder.
Read moreThis product comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. It is an entirely natural product that contains no additives or flavoring. It will increase muscle carnosine levels to improve physical performance during high-intensity exercise.
Creatine is the ideal complement to Beta-Alanine. Check out our Best Creatine Supplements Review 2019 to find the best on the market.
8. BSN Beta-Alanine Powder
3.6 grams of beta-alanine
Blends carnosine, beta-alanine and beta-alanine HCl
No stomach upset
May cause a nauseous reaction
BSN Beta-Alanine Powder is a powder that provides you with 3.6 grams of beta-alanine per serving.
Read moreIt blends carnosine, beta-alanine and beta-alanine HCl. This product has been purposefully unflavored to allow for infinite stacking possibilities.
Some people have complained about stomach cramps when taking this supplement, but you get none of that with this product. The powder is effortless to make. You will get a slight tingling effect with this
9. Nutricost Beta-Alanine Powder
Pure powder
Added BCAA
Great value
Bland taste
The powdered form of beta-alanine provides you with a pure blend of the product.
Read moreThese additives boost the effects of the beta-alanine, by enhancing the body’s release of carnosine. It, in turn, allows you to train with more energy through every set so that you can work harder in the gym while boosting post-workout recovery time.
10. NutraBio Beta-Alanine
100% clean beta-alanine
Mixes well
Neutral taste
Get increased endurance for muscles, buffers lactic acids, a supplement perfect for pre-workout.
Read more100% clean beta-alanine powder. It contains no additives, flavorings, preservatives or coloring. It is lab tested for purity to give you absolute peace of mind that this is a top-quality product. It is packaged in an FDA approved facility in the United States. It should be noted that no anti-caking agent has been added to preserve purity.
Very easy to mix with water, even with just a spoon and a glass. The powder is odorless and tasteless so you can easily stack this product with other formulations, including your protein shake.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Ease of Use
Ease of use gives convenience
Ease of use for alanine is straightforward when purchased as a powder. We looked at the powder forms and noted they are all very similar in terms of the core ingredient being beta-alanine; there are a good number of products which do add new compounds and the target market for these are those that are in intensive training and looking for other benefits.
The taste can be bland, (tasteless) or at times slightly sour, depending on which brand and there are products available where the makers have added a blend of natural ingredients to give a better taste. Some users suggest that mixing the powder into a shake can balance the taste.
To increase athletic-performance, you can easily supplement with alanine powders. The daily dose can start around 3.2 grams or a little higher, the amount you consume will relate to your body size, the intensity of your workouts, and your targets.
If you have any doubts, then starting at 4 grams is comfortable each day to start seeing results, thoughtfully increase the dose to keep pace with your aims. Most users eventually end up on about six grams though this can also vary due to physical size and aims.
Effectiveness
Effectiveness depends on your aims.
You will notice how effective if you start on around 4 or up to 6 grams a day, give it the time when researching through the best choices; we noted that a constant factor was that results start to appear at three or four weeks of regular use. Beta-alanine is different from creatine because your muscles are not saturated, which causes fast muscle growth.
People like Alanine because it will continue to work positively the longer you use it, and users can experiment with dose amounts to find out what works for them.
The valuable benefits are known to be very good:
This supplement provides the right mix of health benefits. The most noted being the following:
The promotion and benefits work for cellular-longevity.
Physical capability and performance are boosted.
Neuroprotective qualities
Excellent anti-inflammatory benefits.
Potency
A good potency produces results
The potency level for beta-alanine is very balanced and positive. the results are gradual and consistent, when first starting to use on a daily intake pre-workout, you will start noticing results around the 4th week.
Creatine saturates muscle tissue and the results are faster but Alanine is a gradual process and works in combination with your work-out cycle, Our bodies naturally produce Alanine so when you take it as a supplement you are only topping up your body so that you can build up muscle through training while also enjoying the other additional benefits.
In terms of potency, it is suggested that a person starts on a small amount from around 3 grams and keep training until results are noticed, at that time the potency level or dose amount can be gradually increased till such time the dose is at about 6 grams a day.
The potency factor does not work the same way as creatine, the results are gradual, and by the time you hit your potency level or daily dose, you will also have been training for probably around six months or more.
Value
Value can be measured in money, quality, performance, and ease of use.
While researching across the many brand names who do produce Beta-Alanine, we looked at the value from a broad perspective.
All the products can promise results were providing that the product is used correctly; the results take time, so patience and persistence is a must. Some brands offer versions which they claim provide more performance and better results, and this claim is based on any enhancing ingredients which have been blended in. Generally, Alanine seems to be favored in as a powder, and the value here is that it is easy to take, mix a measured amount of the powder into water, very quick, very easy and convenient just before starting a training session. In terms of cost, the prices do vary, and makers point out that the variation on value is a result of the purity and preparation process used for creating the product. Satchet holders are popular because they are easy to carry and often contain an exact pre-measured dose.
Containers holding alanine are also a good way forward, for the right amount, a spoon can be used, packets are also popular because they contain more powder and are a safe, secure method for storage. For extra convenience, capsules are available, but the debate around the quality of the alanine is evident. The conclusion we came to is that in whatever form you use alanine, you will be on track for the results you want.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
Ease of Use Effectiveness Potency Value 
When choosing a Beta-Alanine powder, it is very likely that you have long term training aims and that you want to see benefits which are visible and also can be felt.
Buying in bulk is the way forward and will also save money; the general rule is that when you buy in bulk, you pay less. Look for containers which offer the chance to buy the right amount of the product, ensure that the containers are sturdy and durable, airtight and can be easily stored away safely.
When choosing to buy this way, you should look for a brand which provides a measurement spoon so that you can easily dip into the powder and take out the exact measurement. Another option is capsules; these come in packaging which is generally robust, useful for storing and easy to carry.
A side effect which you will notice, depending on your dosage amount is a tingling sensation, this is called paresthesia, tingling can be evident in the lips, the ears and/or the fingers, it is not harmful and tends to occur if you start on this supplement and you are taking over two grams. Eventually, this side effect will reduce as your body gradually becomes saturated. Pacing or increasing your dose will work towards not over saturating receptor in your body, which create the tingling feeling; it should also be noted that a lot of people do not experience this side effect. It is probably due to a gradual thought through increasing the dosage amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: I was told our bodies produce Beta-Alanine, true or False?
It is true; it is produced via the liver. As a supplement, this means you are topping up your body with something that is known to be good because your body already creates it. This does not mean you can take huge doses to get maximum benefits. The benefits from this as a supplement are that you start on a low dosage level 2-3 grams, and over the months you can increase the dosage, usually up to about six grams.
q: Two weeks on and I notice no change, why?
Using this supplement is very different to creatine, the effects and results tend to be evident around the 4th week, new users need to be patient, stay on the start dose amount, continue training, around the 4th week they will feel and see results, at that time you can increase the dose, again continue training, be patient and wait for results.
q: What exactly is Beta-alanine?
It is an amino acid which is produced for the body via the liver. The effects are known to be beneficial, especially for people who are doing regular or intense exercise. From Alanine, the body gets carnosine. You cannot take carnosine as a supplement because the body does not absorb it well as a supplement.
Carnosine can block the acids produced by exercise, which make the muscles uncomfortable and sore. Through blocking this acid, you get a better level of endurance and ability, which means you can exercise more and gain more tangible results and benefits.
q: Why do our muscles lose power and strenght during exercising?
When you go for intensive exercise, our bodies produce and increase hydrogen ions which drops the Ph level in our muscles, in short, an acidic build-up occurs which can cause fatigue and lots of muscle discomfort.
q: Is Beta Alanine safe to use
So far, many researchers say yes, though they do put an advisory cap on continued use up to around 12 weeks.
Sources
- , Betaalnine Info, Extensive article
- , Beta-Alanine, Medical Article
- , A beginners Guide, Medical Article
