CSSD Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

Beta-alanine is an amino acid that plays a crucial role in enhancing exercise performance by buffering lactic acid in muscles. When you engage in high-intensity exercise, lactic acid accumulates, leading to fatigue and a decrease in performance. Beta-alanine contributes to the synthesis of carnosine, which is a dipeptide found in muscle tissue that helps to regulate acidity. By increasing carnosine levels, beta-alanine can help to reduce the effects of lactic acid buildup, allowing individuals to sustain intense exercise for longer periods without feeling fatigued. This mechanism is particularly beneficial during activities that involve repeated bouts of high-intensity efforts.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary benefit of beta-alanine. For instance, while flexibility, hydration, and injury risk are important factors in athletic performance, they are not directly influenced by beta-alanine supplementation like lactic acid buffering is.