Determinants of muscle carnosine content
ReviewHumansHorses
- Design
- Review
- What was measured
- Review of the factors that set muscle carnosine content: species, fibre type, sex, diet, training and beta-alanine supplementation.
What the authors reported
Species is the main determinant of muscle carnosine: aerobically trained female vegetarian athletes (about 13 mmol/kg dry muscle) hold about a tenth of the level in trained thoroughbred horses. Type II fibres hold more than type I. In vegetarians muscle carnosine is limited by hepatic beta-alanine synthesis, whereas omnivores have levels two or more times higher because dietary dipeptides add to it. Beta-alanine or an equal molar amount of carnosine raises muscle carnosine; after stopping, levels return to baseline with an estimated half-life of 5 to 9 weeks. Acute exercise causes no measurable loss, and the authors say human studies lack adequate control of diet and fibre composition.
Limits of this study
Narrative review. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 22327512 · doi:10.1007/s00726-012-1233-y
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.