Carnosine and anserine concentrations in the quadriceps femoris muscle of healthy humans
Observational studyHumans
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 50 healthy subjects; test-retest in 17
- What was measured
- Anserine and carnosine content of the lateral quadriceps femoris, test-retest reliability, and calculated buffering contribution over pH 7.1 to 6.5.
What the authors reported
Anserine was undetectable in all samples. Carnosine was normally distributed with a mean of 20.0 (SD 4.7) mmol/kg dry muscle, higher in men (21.3) than women (17.5) of similar age and training status (P < 0.005), and test-retest means did not differ (21.5 vs 22.0). Over the observed range of 7.2 to 30.7 mmol/kg, carnosine was estimated to buffer 2.4 to 10.1 mmol H+/kg dry mass, about 7 percent of total muscle buffering, so the authors regard it as of limited importance for pH defence in human muscle compared with other species.
Limits of this study
Descriptive biopsy survey. Abstract only.
Source
PubMed 1735411 · doi:10.1007/BF00376439
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.