Influence of oral beta-alanine and L-histidine supplementation on the carnosine content of the gluteus medius
Open-label, no control groupHorsesWith beta-alanine (carnosine precursor) with L-histidine
This study tested carnosine together with beta-alanine (carnosine precursor) with L-histidine. Its results cannot be assigned to carnosine alone. More combination studies.
- Design
- Open-label, no control group
- Subjects
- 6 Thoroughbred horses
- Dose used in the study
- beta-alanine 100 mg/kg body weight plus L-histidine 12.5 mg/kg body weight, three times daily
- Duration
- 30 days
- What was measured
- Carnosine content of single type I, IIA and IIB fibres dissected from gluteus medius biopsies taken before and after supplementation; plasma beta-alanine and histidine area under the curve on days 1 and 30.
What the authors reported
The authors report that plasma beta-alanine exposure rose from 1130 to 2490 micromol/L.h between day 1 and day 30 (P<0.05), while histidine showed no consistent change. Type IIB fibre carnosine rose from a range of 101.3-131.2 to 114.3-153.3 mmol/kg dry weight, significant in 5 of 6 horses. Type IIA fibre carnosine rose from 59.9-102.6 to 76.2-112.2 mmol/kg dry weight, significant in 2 of 6 horses. Individual increases in beta-alanine exposure correlated with changes in muscle carnosine (r2 = 0.973). The authors suggest carnosine synthesis depends on beta-alanine availability and that higher muscle carnosine may increase H+ buffering capacity.
Limits of this study
Six horses, no control group; the supplement was beta-alanine plus histidine rather than carnosine itself; performance was not measured. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 10659307 · doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05273.x
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.