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Beta-alanine is an amino acid that serves as a precursor to carnosine, a dipeptide found in muscle tissue. Carnosine plays a crucial role in buffering hydrogen ions that accumulate during high-intensity exercise, particularly during anaerobic metabolism. The performance-enhancing effects of beta-alanine supplementation are most pronounced in events that last between 60 to 240 seconds, which corresponds to high-intensity efforts where the accumulation of acidity in the muscles can limit performance.

In this duration, athletes often experience fatigue due to the acidic environment caused by lactic acid buildup. By increasing carnosine levels through beta-alanine supplementation, athletes can delay this fatigue, allowing them to maintain a higher intensity for longer. This is especially relevant for sports and events that involve repeated bouts of high-effort exercise, such as sprinting, swimming, or weightlifting.

Events lasting 20-40 seconds are generally less impacted by muscle acidity as they are more reliant on the phosphagen energy system. Meanwhile, duration ranges of 300-600 seconds and over 600 seconds are associated with endurance activities where the body's reliance on aerobic metabolism reduces the immediate impact of acidity, making beta-alanine's effects less crucial during those longer durations.