Those metabolic reactions involved in the synthesis, utilization and/or degradation of beta-alanine. Beta-alanine is an amino acid formed in vivo by the degradation of dihydrouracil and carnosine. Beta-alanine is not used in the synthesis of proteins but is a component of natural peptides, vitamins such as vitamin B5 and of coenzyme A. A rare genetic disorder, hyper-beta-alaninemia, has been reported.