The Beta-Alanine Info Thread

[hrdgain81]

oh man so I just wanted to update this, and let ya'll know how much of a dumbass I've been. I've been looking into Beta-alanine for some time now, not even realizing I was already taking it

Controled labs Purple Wraath ($51@nutraplanet)

I've been "superdosing" this stuff for the last couple weeks, but it wasnt until the last two workouts when I threw back 4 scoops in a matter of minutes that I felt it. It was wierd, like I had hot flashes all over my body, that then began itching, like a dull tingly feeling. It was then that I check the back of the tub of PW and found this.

PURPLEENDURANCE COMPLEX 2,700 mg
Beta Alanine, Citrulline Malate, Betaine Anhydrose, Ginger (from root), L-Norvaline

I have no Idea how much is in there, and having never used this much before I expect that would be the reason I didnt feel the effects before. You really need to know what your putting in your body, I should have read more indepth before I started the PW, live an learn.

[Eric3237]

Dude I was wondering about that. I was assuming you thought the dose wasn't really viable or something.

Personally I hate any sup that doesn't give you exact amounts. I've read you need somewhere over 1.5 grams to get that effect though.

[hrdgain81]

Its odd becaues I've been using PW for a long time now, i guess I finally hit the magic dosage to FEEL the beta alanine in it.

I really dislike the "bla bla matrix" bullshit on the labels, I would like to know how much of each substance I'm putting in my body. This guess an check shit has got to go.

[Eric3237]

^^^yeah that is something I've complained about and cautioned against time and time again.

Hardgain I want to go ahead and post this thing from Will Brink on the 'proprietay blend' thing. I'm not trying to muck up the thread but I think it's something that people looking at this and wanting to try beta-alanine could find useful. BTW, I'm not looking to accuse any particular sup company so if a rep sees this and wants to get defensive realize that it doesn't erase the fact that, not matter what your intentions it's still confusing and misleading to the consumer and I as a consumer have a right to complain about it.

Originally Posted by Will Brink

A supplement that lists a “proprietary blend” on the bottle can be there for one of two reasons:

Originally Posted by Will Brink

(a) to prevent the competition from knowing exactly what ratios and amounts of each ingredient present in the formula to prevent the competition from copying their formula exactly (commonly referred to as a ‘knock off’) or

(b) to hide the fact the formula contains very little of the active ingredients listed on the bottle in an attempt to fool consumers.

Sadly, the latter use is far more common then the former. They see a long list of seemingly impressive ingredients listed in the “proprietary blend” none of which are there is amounts that will have any effects. This is commonly referred to as “label decoration” by industry insiders. The former use of the term is a legitimate way for a company of a quality formula from having the competition copy or “knock off” their formula and the latter use of the term is to scam people.

So how does the consumer tell the difference?

They can’t, or at least they can’t without some research and knowledge, which the scam artists know few people have the time and energy to dedicate to finding the answers. Although there are a few tips the consumer can use to decide if a product with a “proprietary blend” is worth trying, no one, not even me, can figure out exactly how much of each ingredient is in the blend or in what ratio of each is contained within the formula, hence why the honest and not-so-honest companies employ “proprietary blends” so often....

Thus, we have something of a conundrum here and conflict between a company making a quality formula attempting to protect that formula from other companies vs. the company simply looking to baffle buyers with BS.

There are at least some basic tips or food for thought here regarding this problem. A formula that contains say 10 ingredients in a “proprietary blend” is by no means defacto superior then one with three ingredients in it. It’s the dose that matters. Clearly, it’s better to have higher amounts of ingredients that will have some effects vs. a long list of ingredients in doses too low to have any effects.

Some times it helps to look at both what’s in the blend and how much of the blend actually exists. As an example, if say the blend is 300mg total and contains ten ingredients, that’s only 30mg per ingredient, assuming (and you know what they say about assuming!) that each is found in equal amounts.

Clearly, for most compounds out there, 30mg wont do jack sh*&. On the other hand, if say the blend is 3000mg (3 grams) and contains three or four ingredients, there is at least a better chance that the formula contains enough of each (and remember, we can’t tell how much of each is in there as that information is “proprietary”) to have some effects you are looking for such as an increase in strength, or a decrease in bodyfat, etc.

Unfortunately, the above examples are so vague as to be close to worthless as it’s easy enough to formulate a 3000mg blend where all the ingredients are worthless to begin with or a 300mg blend that contains compounds that only require small doses to have an effect and or can be toxic at higher doses.

For example, the mineral zinc tends to be no more then 30mg in most formulas and no more is needed or recommended. Much of this comes down to the consumer knowing what the various ingredients are and how they work (to decide if they are even worth using in the first place) then deciding if said blend appears to at least contain a dose that would have the desired effects, which just brings us back to my prior comment: most people have neither the time or inclination to research all that info just to decide if they want to use a product and thus the many “proprietary blends” on the market that are no more then a long list of under-dosed ingredients.

Wish I could be of more help giving specific advice to readers of this here article as to what makes a good blend and what constitutes a poorly made blend, but the above advice is the best I can do under the circumstances. Although a “proprietary blend” is not by default a negative to the consumer, it is by all means the poster child for the well-known Latin term Caveat emptor which translates into English as "let the buyer beware".

[hrdgain81]

I couldnt agree more eric. While I understand the need to keep a formula a secret, it is hard to explain when your product isnt anything ground breaking.

that being said, i can assume that there is atleast 3g of beta alanine in 4 scoops of PW, I dont think I would have felt it if there wasnt.

[TALO]

with everything else that is in Purple Wrath how can you contribute your effects on just the one thing ( the beta alanine) ?

[hrdgain81]

^^ out of all the ingredients in Purple Wraath the Beta-Alanine is the only one that has "itchy/scratchy/tingly" sensations as a side effect.

[Eric3237]

Heres a fancy medical term you can use for that side-effect:

Paresthesias

Aren't I helpful?

[hrdgain81]

^^ nice now I can sound kinda smart when I copy and paste that into threads ... too bad I cant go back and edit my earlier posts in this thread

[ChinPieceDave667]

I wrote a question, then soon after I saw the answer.