Beta-alanine: what it is, the tingle, and the dose in LA BOMBA

Beta-alanine is an amino acid, best known for the short tingle on the skin that many people notice after taking it. The tingle is harmless and fades on its own. LA BOMBA contains 2500 mg of beta-alanine per full scoop.

What beta-alanine is

Beta-alanine is a close relative of alanine, one of the standard amino acids. The difference is where the amino group sits. In regular alanine it's attached to the carbon right next to the acid group, called the alpha carbon. In beta-alanine it's one position further along, on the beta carbon. Hence the name.

Because of that shift, beta-alanine isn't one of the amino acids that proteins are built from.

In food, beta-alanine occurs mainly in meat, poultry and fish, where most of it is bound to other amino acids in small compounds called dipeptides. Plant foods contain very little.

The tingle

Many people feel a short tingle or prickling on the skin after taking beta-alanine. The medical term is paresthesia. It's harmless, and it fades on its own.

Not everyone notices it, and people describe it differently. Some barely register it; others find it uncomfortable or distracting.

We mention it upfront because it can be a surprise if you've never had beta-alanine before. It's a known sensation that comes with the ingredient, not a sign that something is wrong with your jar. Some brands present the tingle as proof that a product is doing something; we don't. It's a sensation, nothing more.

How much is in LA BOMBA

In Belgium, the recommended serving is ¼ scoop (4.5 g), which contains 625 mg of beta-alanine. Like every active in LA BOMBA, beta-alanine has its own line and dose on the label.

If the tingle bothers you

We'll keep this to what's on our label, because a lot of the advice online isn't something we can back up.

• Start with ¼ scoop. The label advises new or sensitive users to start with ¼ scoop. That's 625 mg of beta-alanine instead of 2500 mg. In Belgium, ¼ scoop is the recommended serving anyway.
• Mix it as the label says. A full scoop goes into 300–400 ml of cold water. Adding more water changes the taste, not the amount of beta-alanine you drink.
• Check your other supplements. If something else you take also contains beta-alanine, count it too. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake.

We can't promise the tingle disappears completely at a smaller serving, because people react differently. If you notice anything other than a tingle, such as a rash or swelling, stop using the product and talk to a doctor.

What we can and can't say about beta-alanine

Under EU rules we can only make claims that are on the EU's list of authorised health claims. For beta-alanine there are none, so we stick to the facts. You can check this yourself in the EU Register of nutrition and health claims.

That's why this page sticks to what beta-alanine is, the tingle, and how much is in a scoop.

Before you use LA BOMBA

LA BOMBA also contains caffeine. The warning on the label reads:

Contains caffeine (300 mg per full scoop, 75 mg per ¼ scoop). Not recommended for children, adolescents, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake. Consult your doctor if you take medication. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of young children.

How to use: 1 full scoop (18 g) in 300–400 ml cold water, 15–30 minutes before training. If you're new to it or sensitive, start with ¼ scoop. In Belgium, ¼ scoop is the recommended serving.

FAQ

Is the beta-alanine tingle dangerous?

No. It's a known, harmless sensation called paresthesia, and it fades on its own. If you get anything other than a tingle, such as a rash or swelling, stop and see a doctor.

I don't feel a tingle. Is something missing?

No. Not everyone notices it, and how strongly people feel it varies. The amount in the scoop is the same either way: 2500 mg per full scoop, 625 mg per ¼ scoop.

Can I avoid the tingle completely?

We can't promise that. What the label advises is to start with ¼ scoop if you're new or sensitive. In Belgium, ¼ scoop is the recommended serving.

Is beta-alanine the same as alanine?

No. They have the same atoms, arranged differently: the amino group sits on a different carbon. Alanine is one of the amino acids proteins are built from; beta-alanine isn't.

Are there EU health claims for beta-alanine?

No. There are no authorised EU health claims for beta-alanine, so we don't make any.

Curious what else is in the scoop? See the full LA BOMBA label on the product page.