Effect of beta-alanine and carnosine supplementation on muscle contractility in mice
Laboratory studyOther animalsWith beta-alanine (carnosine precursor) in separate arms
This study tested carnosine together with beta-alanine (carnosine precursor) in separate arms. Its results cannot be assigned to carnosine alone. More combination studies.
- Design
- Laboratory study
- Subjects
- 66 male NMRI mice
- Dose used in the study
- carnosine 0.1%, 0.5% or 1.8%, or beta-alanine 0.6% or 1.2%, in drinking water
- Duration
- 8-12 weeks
- What was measured
- Muscle carnosine, anserine and taurine content (EDL and tibialis anterior); in vitro contractility and fatigue in soleus and EDL muscle.
What the authors reported
Only 1.8% carnosine and 1.2% beta-alanine markedly raised muscle carnosine (up to +160%) and anserine (up to +46%) compared with control mice. Beta-alanine at 1.2% increased fatigue resistance early in the soleus fatigue protocol (by 2 to 4%) and shifted the EDL force-frequency relation markedly leftward (10 to 31% higher relative forces). The authors say beta-alanine availability appears rate-limiting for muscle dipeptide synthesis in mice and that loading affects excitation-contraction coupling and fatigue moderately and in a muscle-dependent way.
Limits of this study
Rodents lack serum carnosinase, so oral results do not carry over to people. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 22895378 · doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e31826cdb68
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.