β-Alanine is a naturally occurring beta amino acid, formed in vivo by the degradation of dihydrouracil and carnosine. It is a component of pantothenic acid and the rate-limiting amino acid in the biosynthesis of the histidinyl antioxidant dipeptides carnosine and anserine. It is a non-specific endogenous agonist at the inhibitory glycine receptor and more selective than taurine. It is the rate-limiting precursor of carnosine, as a result supplementation with β-alanine increases the concentration of carnosine in muscles. It has been used as a ligand for the orphan MAS-related receptor. It is also applied in culture media used for certain strains of yeast to test for β-alanine auxotrophy. It also distinguishes between GABA transporters.
Nutritional supplement in health care products.