Sustained military operations (SUSOPs) are associated with performance decrements and cognitive dysfunction. β‐Alanine (BA) supplementation may have a role in increasing soldier resiliency by enhancing muscle‐buffering capacity and reducing oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of BA on physical performance, cognition, endocrine function, and inflammation during a 24 h simulated SUSOP. Nineteen males were randomized into one of two groups: BA (n = 10) or placebo (n = 9; PLA) (12 g/day) for 14 days preceding the 24 h SUSOP. Assessments were performed at 0 h (0H), 12 h (12H), and 24 h (24H) during the SUSOP. No changes in visual tracking ability, jump power, or upper‐body muscular endurance were observed between groups or time points (P's > 0.05). Increases in subjective feelings of soreness and fatigue were noted at 12H compared to 0H (P < 0.05) in PLA, but not in BA. Visual reaction time for PLA was slower at 24H compared to 0H (P = 0.035), and PLA made more errors on reaction time testing at 12H compared to BA (P = 0.048), but motor reaction time was faster (P = 0.016) for PLA. Simulated litter carry and 1 km run completion times increased at 24H compared to 0H in both groups (P < 0.05), however, PLA had a longer 1 km time compared to BA at 24H (P = 0.050). Increases in inflammatory and endocrine markers were observed over the SUSOP, with no differences between groups. BA supplementation appears to maintain some aspects of cognition and physical performance during a 24 h SUSOP, with no effects on endocrine function or inflammation.

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Wells, AJ, Varanoske, AN, Coker, NA, Kozlowski, GJ, Frosti, CL, Boffey, D, Harat, I, Jahani, S, Gepner, Y, and Hoffman, JR. Effect of β-alanine supplementation on monocyte recruitment and cognition during a 24-hour simulated military operation. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3042–3054, 2020—Sustained military operations (SUSOPs) result in psychological stress and cognitive dysfunction, which may be related to the recruitment of classical monocytes into the brain. This study examined the effect of beta-alanine (BA) on cognition and monocyte recruitment during a simulated 24-hour SUSOP. Nineteen healthy men ingested 12-g/d BA or placebo for 14 days before an SUSOP. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), C-C chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2), and macrophage-1-antigen (CD11b) expression were assessed through multiplex assay and flow cytometry. Psychological stress and cognition were assessed through Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM). A composite measure of cognition (COGcomp) was generated from throughput scores extracted from 7 ANAM cognitive tests. Assessments occurred at baseline (0H), 12 hours (12H), 18 hours (18H), and 24 hours (24H). Significance was accepted at p ≤ 0.05. No significant effect of BA was noted for any variable (p's > 0.05). The frequency and severity of symptoms of psychological stress increased significantly at 18 and 24H compared with 0 and 12H (p's < 0.05). COGcomp decreased significantly at 18 and 24H compared with 0 and 12H (p's ≤ 0.001). MCP-1 peaked at 18H was significantly lower at 24H compared with 18H but remained elevated at 24H compared with 0H (p's < 0.001). CCR2 expression was significantly lower at 12 (p = 0.031), 18, and 24H (p's < 0.001). CD11b expression was significantly higher at 12H (p = 0.039) and 24H (p's = 0.003). MCP-1 was negatively associated with COGcomp (β = −0.395, p = 0.002, r2 = 0.174). Neither CCR2 or CD11b was related to COGcomp (p's > 0.05). Cognitive dysfunction during SUSOPs is related to serum concentrations of MCP-1 but is not influenced by BA supplementation.

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