β-alanine is a breakdown product of carnosine and anserine, which are dipeptides from meat consumption. Although β-alanine’s properties are limited, its relationship to carnosine makes it important. Both have antioxidant properties. Carnosine is critical for pH buffering in skeletal muscle during exercise, but its formation can be limited by enzymatic factors.
For this reason, supplementation with β-alanine is sometimes used to enhance carnitine and therefore improve athletic performance. In addition to diet and supplementation, β-alanine can also be endogenously produced. This occurs via degradation of uracil in the liver but it can also bea made by intestinal bacteria such as E. coli.
Since β-alanine comes from meat consumption, endogenous production is the only source in vegetarian and vegan populations. Given their limited diets, vegetarians and vegans have lower levels of β-alanine and muscle carnosine compared to omnivores. There is also an interesting interplay between taurine and β-alanine. Taurine and β-alanine share the same skeletal muscle transporter, whereby β-alanine can inhibit taurine’s uptake into muscle. Elevated beta-alanine can sometimes deplete taurine leading to oxidative stress, causing tissue damage. Additionally, these two amino acids compete for the same reabsorption transporters in the kidney. Elevated β-alanine can contribute to renal wasting of taurine.
References:
- Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:30.
- Eaton K, Howard M, Mphil AH. Urinary beta-alanine excretion is a marker of abnormal as well as normal gut fermentation. J Nutr Med. 1994;4(2):157-163.
- Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:30-30.
- Shetewy A, Shimada-Takaura K, Warner D, et al. Mitochondrial defects associated with beta-alanine toxicity: relevance to hyper-beta-alaninemia. Molec Cell Biochem. 2016;416(1-2):11-22.
- Jong CJ, Azuma J, Schaffer S. Mechanism underlying the antioxidant activity of taurine: prevention of mitochondrial oxidant production. Amino Acids. 2012;42(6):2223-2232.
- Chesney RW, Han X, Patters AB. Taurine and the renal system. J Sci. 2010;17 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S4-S4.
- Suidasari S, Stautemas J, Uragami S, Yanaka N, Derave W, Kato N. Carnosine Content in Skeletal Muscle Is Dependent on Vitamin B6 Status in Rats. Front Nutr. 2015;2:39.
- Hahn CD, Shemie SD, Donner EJ. Status Epilepticus. In: Ped Critic Care. Elsevier; 2011:837-848.
- Parviz M, Vogel K, Gibson KM, Pearl PL. Disorders of GABA metabolism: SSADH and GABA-transaminase deficiencies. J Ped Epilepsy. 2014;3(4):217-227.
- Blancquaert L, Baba SP, Kwiatkowski S, et al. Carnosine and anserine homeostasis in skeletal muscle and heart is controlled by beta-alanine transamination. J Physiol. 2016;594(17):4849-4863.
- Perim P, Marticorena FM, Ribeiro F, et al. Can the Skeletal Muscle Carnosine Response to Beta-Alanine Supplementation Be Optimized? Front Nutr. 2019;6:135.
- Peters V, Klessens CQ, Baelde HJ, et al. Intrinsic carnosine metabolism in the human kidney. Amino Acids. 2015;47(12):2541-2550.
- Eaton K, Howard M, Mphil AH. Urinary beta-alanine excretion is a marker of abnormal as well as normal gut fermentation. J Nutr Med. 1994;4(2):157-163.
Levels may be elevated in meat consumption when dipeptides anserine and carnosine are elevated since they both contain β-alanine. Supplementation with β-alanine also results in elevated levels.
Urinary beta-alanine excretion is associated with gut bacterial fermentation and elevated levels may indicate dysbiosis. Elevated β-alanine can contribute to renal wasting of taurine given their unique relationship.
The breakdown and metabolism of β-alanine requires vitamin B6-dependent enzymes. With that, a functional need for vitamin B6 can contribute to elevations.
There are very rare inborn errors of metabolism that can cause elevations of β-alanine:
There are several rare inborn errors of metabolism that can cause elevations of β-alanine, a non-essential amino acid. These metabolic disorders are typically caused by genetic mutations that result in the impairment or deficiency of enzymes involved in the metabolism of β-alanine or related pathways. Some examples of such rare inborn errors of metabolism that can cause elevated β-alanine levels include:
Hyper-beta-alaninemia: This is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the BCKDHA gene, which encodes the alpha subunit of the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex. This complex is involved in the breakdown of the branched-chain amino acids, including β-alanine. Mutations in BCKDHA can result in the accumulation of β-alanine in the blood and urine.
Dihydropyrimidinase deficiency: This is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the DPYS gene, which encodes the enzyme dihydropyrimidinase. This enzyme is involved in the degradation of uracil and thymine, which are pyrimidine bases that are part of nucleic acids. Accumulation of dihydropyrimidinase substrates, including β-alanine, can occur in individuals with dihydropyrimidinase deficiency.
Pyrimidine degradation disorders: Disorders that involve defects in enzymes involved in the degradation of pyrimidine nucleotides, such as dihydropyrimidinase, can lead to elevated levels of β-alanine as a result of the accumulation of pyrimidine intermediates.
It's important to note that these inborn errors of metabolism are rare and typically diagnosed through specialized testing by metabolic specialists. Treatment for these disorders depends on the specific metabolic defect and may involve dietary modifications, enzyme replacement therapy, or other interventions tailored to the individual's needs. If you suspect that you or your child may have a rare inborn error of metabolism, it's important to consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation, diagnosis, and management.
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Further questions:
Can catabolism of diseased tissue lead to elevated levels of beta alanine (urine)?
Yes, the catabolism of diseased tissue, such as in certain metabolic disorders or diseases affecting muscle tissue, can potentially lead to elevated levels of beta alanine in urine. Beta alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is a component of proteins and is involved in various physiological processes in the body. However, under certain conditions, such as tissue breakdown or altered metabolism, beta alanine can be released into the bloodstream and eventually excreted in urine.
For example, in conditions where there is increased breakdown of muscle tissue, such as in rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle tissue breaks down and releases its contents into the bloodstream, including beta alanine, the levels of beta alanine in urine may be elevated. Similarly, in metabolic disorders such as urea cycle disorders or disorders of amino acid metabolism, where there are abnormalities in the breakdown of proteins or amino acids, beta alanine may be increased in urine as a result of altered metabolism.
It's important to note that elevated levels of beta alanine in urine alone may not be diagnostic of a specific disease or condition, and further evaluation and testing by a qualified healthcare professional would be necessary to determine the underlying cause of the elevated levels. Other factors, such as diet, medications, and kidney function, can also affect beta alanine levels in urine.
Can this be treated with Vitamin B6 to transfer amines?
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is involved in various metabolic pathways in the body, including the metabolism of amino acids. It acts as a coenzyme, facilitating the transfer of amino groups (amines) during certain biochemical reactions. However, the use of vitamin B6 to specifically treat elevated levels of beta alanine in urine would depend on the underlying cause of the condition.
In some cases, if the elevated levels of beta alanine in urine are due to a metabolic disorder or a genetic condition affecting amino acid metabolism, supplementation with vitamin B6 or other vitamins and cofactors may be part of the treatment approach. For example, in certain types of urea cycle disorders, where there are deficiencies in enzymes involved in the breakdown of ammonia, vitamin B6 supplementation may be beneficial in reducing ammonia levels, which could indirectly affect beta alanine metabolism.
However, it's important to note that the use of vitamin B6 or any other treatment for a medical condition should be determined and monitored by a qualified healthcare professional. The treatment approach would depend on the specific underlying cause of the elevated beta alanine levels in urine, and a comprehensive evaluation, including a thorough medical history, physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic testing, would be needed to determine the most appropriate treatment plan. Self-treatment or supplementation without proper medical supervision can be potentially harmful and is not recommended.
Possible cause for food sensitivity reactions when beta alanine is combined with low taurine and high 3-methylhistidine, carnosine and/or anserine, due to impaired renal tubular resorption.
While there is limited evidence to suggest a direct link between food sensitivity reactions and the combination of beta alanine with low taurine and high 3-methylhistidine, carnosine, and/or anserine levels due to impaired renal tubular resorption, it is important to consider the broader context of individual health and other factors that may contribute to food sensitivities.
Food sensitivities, also known as food intolerances or adverse food reactions, refer to adverse reactions to certain foods that may involve the immune system or other mechanisms. They can manifest with a variety of symptoms, such as digestive issues, skin rash, respiratory symptoms, and more.
Beta alanine is an amino acid that is involved in the synthesis of carnosine, and it is found in high concentrations in skeletal muscles. Taurine is another amino acid that plays various roles in the body, including bile acid conjugation, osmoregulation, and antioxidant activity. 3-methylhistidine is a metabolite of histidine, an essential amino acid, and is commonly used as a marker for skeletal muscle breakdown. Carnosine and anserine are dipeptides composed of beta alanine and histidine, and they are also found in high concentrations in skeletal muscles.
Impaired renal tubular resorption refers to a condition where the kidneys are unable to effectively reabsorb certain substances from the urine back into the bloodstream, which can result in increased excretion of these substances in the urine.
While there is evidence that these amino acids and dipeptides may be affected by impaired renal tubular resorption in certain metabolic disorders or renal diseases, their direct relationship with food sensitivities is not well-established. Food sensitivities are complex and multifactorial, involving immune responses to specific food components, and the exact mechanisms underlying food sensitivities are not fully understood.
It's important to note that multiple factors, such as genetics, immune system responses, gut health, and overall diet, can contribute to food sensitivities. If you suspect you have food sensitivities or other health concerns, it's best to consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation, diagnosis, and management. They can provide personalized medical advice based on your individual health history and circumstances.
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Easily upload lab results from any provider, whether it's a hospital, independent lab, or home testing service. We support PDFs, scanned documents, and JPEGs from patient portals. No need to log in to multiple platforms — everything is centralized in one secure space.
Easily upload lab results from any provider — we support PDFs, scans, and images. Keep all your reports organized in one secure place.
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Every lab result is automatically organized on a chronological timeline, giving you a complete picture of your health journey. Whether you're tracking a condition, managing treatments, or staying proactive, the timeline helps you and your doctor understand how things progress over time.
Every lab result is automatically organized on a chronological timeline, giving you a complete picture of your health journey.
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Whether it's a blood test, GI panel, urinalysis, or something else, lab reports measure numerous biomarkers that reveal what's happening inside your body. Our extensive database covers over 10,000 biomarkers, providing clear, simple explanations of what each result means and how you can take action—no matter your membership level. Say goodbye to confusion and get the insights you need to better understand your health.
Our database covers over 10,000 biomarkers with clear, simple explanations—so you can finally understand your results and what to do next.
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Enter Your Lab Reports — Always Free
If you'd like to handle inputting your health data into your account, you can do so with our easy-to-use data entry forms. Our user-friendly form is designed to guide you through the quick and easy submission process, making it simple to keep track of your health metrics. This is available to both Complete plan and Unlimited plan members.
Our user-friendly form guides you through a quick, simple submission process, making it easy to enter your health metrics.
Add your results anytime with our easy entry form. It's quick, guided, and helps you stay organized — free for all members.
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View your lab data through easy-to-read graphs and tables. Quickly spot patterns, track changes, and compare results across different dates — all without digging through multiple reports. You can also select and compare graphs of specific biomarkers side-by-side to better understand how they relate and change over time.
See your lab reports in clear graphs and tables. Spot patterns, track changes, and compare results over time — all in one place.
Export Your Complete Lab History in a Single File
Export Your Complete Lab History
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file. Choose from PDF, Excel, or CSV formats to easily review, share, or get a second opinion—no more juggling multiple reports.
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file.
Comprehensive Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest. Complete plan members receive one report entered for free, then $15 per report after that. Unlimited plan members receive ten report entries for free, then $15 per report after that.
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest.
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Whether you're working with a doctor, nutritionist, caregiver, or wellness coach, you can securely share your complete lab history by sending an invite link to anyone you trust. You have full control over who sees your information and for how long, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind at every step.
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I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
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As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
The Complete Plan ($15/month) is perfect for individuals who want ongoing access to their health data. It includes unlimited lab imports, visual tracking, custom ranges, result explanations, full account exports, and secure sharing — all with a simple monthly subscription. You can cancel anytime and restart your plan whenever you're ready — your data will still be there waiting for you. You can also upgrade to the Unlimited Plan at any time, with the cost prorated based on what you've already paid.
The Unlimited Plan ($250 one-time) is also designed for individuals but offers lifetime access with no ongoing subscription. You'll get all the same features as the Complete Plan, plus a larger initial data entry allowance (10 reports), making it a great choice if you prefer a one-time payment and long-term use without monthly fees.
In short:
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
The $15 per report covers the time and care it takes for a real person to review your file, make sure each result is entered correctly, and double-check for accuracy. This ensures your health data is precise and easy to work with — without you having to spend the time doing it yourself.
Prefer to do it yourself? You can always use our free self-entry tool to add results manually — it just takes a bit more time and attention.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
All professional accounts allow you to import and onboard an unlimited number of clients and their lab results. The distinction between professional plans lies solely in the data entry service.
The Pro Monthly Plus plan is priced at $75 per month and includes a data entry service for five reports each month. Additional reports can be self-entered at no extra cost or, if preferred, you can use our data entry service for an additional fee of $15 per report.
The Pro Monthly plan is priced at $45 per month and does not include a data entry service. Self-entry is free for an unlimited number of reports, and you can opt for the data entry service at a fee of $15 per report.
You also have the option to upgrade to higher monthly or to annual plans, which come with substantial discounts. All upgrades can be done directly from your account.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download your information anytime. We offer two easy ways to export your lab data:
This makes it simple to save, back up, or share your health data whenever you need.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Optimal Result:
0 - 18 micromol/g creatinine.