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Muscle Carnosine Metabolism and β-Alanine Supplementation in Relation to Exercise and Training

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Abstract

Carnosine is a dipeptide with a high concentration in mammalian skeletal muscle. It is synthesized by carnosine synthase from the amino acids L-histidine and β-alanine, of which the latter is the rate-limiting precursor, and degraded by carnosinase. Recent studies have shown that the chronic oral ingestion of β-alanine can substantially elevate (up to 80%) the carnosine content of human skeletal muscle. Interestingly, muscle carnosine loading leads to improved performance in high-intensity exercise in both untrained and trained individuals. Although carnosine is not involved in the classic adenosine triphosphate-generating metabolic pathways, this suggests an important role of the dipeptide in the homeostasis of contracting muscle cells, especially during high rates of anaerobic energy delivery. Carnosine may attenuate acidosis by acting as a pH buffer, but improved contractile performance may also be obtained by improved excitation-contraction coupling and defence against reactive oxygen species. High carnosine concentrations are found in individuals with a high proportion of fast-twitch fibres, because these fibres are enriched with the dipeptide. Muscle carnosine content is lower in women, declines with age and is probably lower in vegetarians, whose diets are deprived of β-alanine. Sprint-trained athletes display markedly high muscular carnosine, but the acute effect of several weeks of training on muscle carnosine is limited. High carnosine levels in elite sprinters are therefore either an important genetically determined talent selection criterion or a result of slow adaptation to years of training. β-alanine is rapidly developing as a popular ergogenic nutritional supplement for athletes worldwide, and the currently available scientific literature suggests that its use is evidence based. However, many aspects of the supplement, such as the potential side effects and the mechanism of action, require additional and thorough investigation by the sports science community.

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Acknowledgements

This review and the mentioned studies from our laboratory are financially supported by grants from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO 1.5.149.08 and G0.0046.09). Audrey Baguet is a recipient of a PhD scholarship from the Research Foundation – Flanders. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Wim Derave, Inge Everaert, Sam Beeckman & Audrey Baguet

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  1. Wim Derave
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Correspondence to Wim Derave.

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Derave, W., Everaert, I., Beeckman, S. et al. Muscle Carnosine Metabolism and β-Alanine Supplementation in Relation to Exercise and Training. Sports Med 40, 247–263 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2165/11530310-000000000-00000

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