Difference between alanine and beta alanine
Alanine vs Beta Alanine:
Alanine and beta alanine are non-essential amino acids that are soluble in water and are often used by athletes for generating more energy. However, these two substances bear certain differences in terms of their composition and their functions as well. Therefore, this article has been written with the aim of comparing these two substances which will aid in differentiating the two more effectively.
What is Alanine?
Alanine is an alpha amino acid which is soluble in water and carries the chemical formula CH3CH (NH2)COOH. It is also proteinogenic which is classified as a non-polar amino acid as well. Alanine is known to occur in bacterial cell walls and in some peptide antibiotics. Alanine has a melting point of 258 degrees and has a density of 1.424 g/cm3 with a consistency that resembles a white powder. While alanine is found in a more highly concentrated form in meat products, it is also found in food such as dairy products, caseinate, lactalbumin, nuts, beans, whey, soy, brown rice, brewer’s yeast, corn, bran, whole grains and legumes.
What is Beta Alanine?
Beta alanine can be defined as a naturally occurring beta amino acid which is soluble in water and is considered as not essential to be obtained from external products as it is considered that the body itself is able to synthesize it. It has a density of 1.437 g/cm3 and a melting point of 270 degrees Centigrade and is not used in the bio synthesis of any major proteins or enzymes. Beta alanine too can be found in meat products, particularly in fish, pork, beef and chicken. Beta-alanine supplementary is also quite popular among athletes who work on developing their body muscles as it is known to increase the total carnosine concentration in the muscles. However, after multiple doses of 400 mg or 800 mg which was continued for 10 weeks, studies have shown that the increase in intramuscular carnosine content is an average of 80.1%.
What is the difference between Beta alanine and alanine?
Both alanine and Beta alanine are non essential amino acids which are soluble in water and both can be obtained through meat products and other vegetable products as well. And yet, alanine is a proteinogenic amino acid whereas beta alanine is known as a non-proteinogenic amino acid. Also, beta alanine has a much thicker density that surpasses the density of alanine. Alanine also boasts of a higher melting point than beta alenine as a result of alanine possessing a lower density than beta alanine.
Also, when speaking of the two substances structurally, alanine, which is a proteinogenic amino acid, is known to have a chiral center. Beta alanine on the other hand does not possess a chiral center. However, both substances do present themselves to the naked eye in the form of a white powder.
Alanine is considered to increase one’s blood pressure whereas beta alanine is considered to be able to be the precursor to carnosine by rate limitation. Beta alanine as a result is known to increase the amount of carnosine in the muscle which becomes instrumental in building leaner, more toned muscle mass. Beta Alanine is a preferred supplement among athletes as this boost of carnosine that beta alanine provides is known to reduce the amount of fatigue in athletes, thus enabling them to cope with more stress and strain during their training. And yet, overdoses of beta Alanine can even lead to prosthesias which is better defined as a kind of neuropathic sensation of pain which can be quite injurious to health.
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Tags: amino acid, beef, body mass, carnosine, chicken, crystaline, fish, health, muscle, muscle building, neuropathic, pork, prosthesias, proteinogenic, supplementary
