Factors determining the carnosine content of human skeletal muscle: Influence of age and sex

• Grant number: 17/09635-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Gualano
• Grantee: Eimear Bernadette Dolan
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Carnosine is a di-peptide comprising ²-alanine and L-histidine, and has been reported to play a number of ergogenic and therapeutic roles within human skeletal muscle metabolism. Many factors have been identified as having an influence on carnosine content. In particular, women and older adults have been reported to have lower carnosine content than men and younger individuals. These assumptions have been used to make inferences relating to potential mechanisms of carnosine action, and to underpin nutritional advice and interventions. In reality however, the research underpinning these assumptions is based largely on convenience based samples, and does not adequately consider the influence of modifiable lifestyle factors including activity level, adaptation to specific training or nutritional intake, rendering it difficult to isolate the effects of age and sex per se. The two studies described within the current proposal are designed to address these issues. Study One will compare total muscle and single fibre carnosine content between a group of pre-frail or frail older adults, non-frail older adults and young healthy controls. Study Two will measure differences in total muscle and single fibre carnosine content between men and women, matched for training type, volume and diet. Both studies will also measure the expression level of genes related to the synthesis, degradation and transportation of carnosine and its constituent amino acids. In addition, both studies will assess modifiable life-style associated factors including activity level, training status, body composition and nutritional intake using population appropriate measures. A major strength of the proposed studies is the inclusion of single fibre carnosine analysis. Fibre type is often postulated to be a mediator of reported inter-individual differences in carnosine content. The highly complex and time-consuming nature of this analysis precludes its wide-spread use in human studies however, and to-date, the potential influence of fibre type on carnosine content between sex and age-groups has not been adequately addressed. The proposed research program will provide comprehensive answers to the questions posed, and new insight into the factors which impact carnosine content in human skeletal muscle metabolism, so allowing optimisation of the ergogenic and therapeutic potential of this dipeptide.

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOLAN, EIMEAR; SAUNDERS, BRYAN; HARRIS, ROGER CHARLES; BICUDO, JOSE EDUARDO PEREIRA WILKEN; BISHOP, DAVID JOHN; SALE, CRAIG; GUALANO, BRUNO. Comparative physiology investigations support a role for histidine-containing dipeptides in intracellular acid base regulation of skeletal muscle. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v. 234, p. 77-86, AUG 2019. (13/14746-4, 17/04973-4, 16/50438-0, 17/09635-0, 15/11328-2)

DOLAN, EIMEAR; SALE, CRAIG. Protein and bone health across the lifespan. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, v. 78, n. 1, p. 45-55, FEB 2019. (15/11328-2, 17/09635-0)

DOLAN, EIMEAR; SWINTON, PAUL A.; PAINELLI, VITOR DE SALLES; HEMINGWAY, BENEDICT STEPHENS; MAZZOLANI, BRUNA; SMAIRA, FABIANA INFANTE; SAUNDERS, BRYAN; ARTIOLI, GUILHERME G.; GUALANO, BRUNO. A Systematic Risk Assessment and Meta-Analysis on the Use of Oral beta-Alanine Supplementation. ADVANCES IN NUTRITION, v. 10, n. 3, p. 452-463, MAY 2019. (13/14746-4, 17/04973-4, 16/50438-0, 17/09635-0, 14/11948-8, 13/04806-0, 15/11328-2)

SWINTON, PAUL A.; HEMINGWAY, BEN STEPHENS; SAUNDERS, BRYAN; GUALANO, BRUNO; DOLAN, EIMEAR. A Statistical Framework to Interpret Individual Response to Intervention : Paving the Way for Personalized Nutrition and Exercise Prescription. FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION, v. 5, MAY 28 2018. (13/14746-4, 17/04973-4, 16/50438-0, 17/09635-0, 15/11328-2)

REZENDE, NATHALIA SAFFIOTI; SWINTON, PAUL; DE OLIVEIRA, LUANA FARIAS; DA SILVA, RAFAEL PIRES; DA EIRA SILVA, VINICIUS; NEMEZIO, KLEINER; YAMAGUCHI, GUILHERME; ARTIOLI, GUILHERME GIANNINI; GUALANO, BRUNO; SAUNDERS, BRYAN; et al. The Muscle Carnosine Response to Beta-Alanine Supplementation: A Systematic Review With Bayesian Individual and Aggregate Data E-Max Model and Meta-Analysis. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY, v. 11, AUG 14 2020. (13/14746-4, 17/04973-4, 17/09635-0, 15/23176-2, 19/27758-7, 19/05616-6, 17/23688-9, 14/11948-8)

DOLAN, E.; SAUNDERS, B.; DANTAS, W. S.; MURAI, I. H.; ROSCHEL, H.; ARTIOLI, G. G.; HARRIS, R.; BICUDO, J. E. P. W.; SALE, C.; GUALANO, B.. A Comparative Study of Hummingbirds and Chickens Provides Mechanistic Insight on the Histidine Containing Dipeptide Role in Skeletal Muscle Metabolism. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 8, OCT 3 2018. (13/14746-4, 16/10993-5, 17/09635-0, 15/11328-2, 16/50438-0, 17/04973-4)