Kinetics of Muscle Carnosine Decay after beta-Alanine Supplementation: A 16-wk Washout Study

Author(s):Show less -

Yamaguchi, Guilherme Carvalho ^[1] ; Nemezio, Kleiner ^[1] ; Schulz, Mariane Leichsenring ^[2] ; Natali, Jose ^[1] ; Cesar, Jonatas Eduardo ^[3] ; Riani, Luiz Augusto ^[1] ; Goncalves, Livia De Souza ^[1] ; Moller, Gabriella Berwig ^[1] ; Sale, Craig ^[4] ; Gennari De Medeiros, Marisa Helena ^[2] ; Gualano, Bruno ^[1] ; Artioli, Guilherme Giannini ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Appl Physiol & Nutr Res Grp, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Rheumatol Div, Fac Med FMUSP, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, Dept Bioquim, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Genet & Biol Evolut, Inst Biociencias, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Nottingham Trent Univ, Musculoskeletal Physiol Res Grp, Sport Hlth & Performance Enhancement Res Ctr, Nottingham - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE; v. 53, n. 5, p. 1079-1088, MAY 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to describe the kinetics of carnosine washout in human skeletal muscle over 16 wk. Methods Carnosine washout kinetics were studied in 15 young, physically active omnivorous men randomly assigned to take 6.4 g center dot d(-1) of beta-alanine (n = 11) or placebo (n = 4) for 8 wk. Muscle carnosine content (M-Carn) was determined before (PRE), immediately after (POST), and 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk after supplementation. High-intensity exercise tests were performed at these same time points. Linear and exponential models were fitted to the washout data, and the leave-one-out method was used to select the model with the best fit for M-Carn decay data. Repeated-measures correlation analysis was used to assess the association between changes in M-Carn and changes in performance. Results M-Carn increased from PRE to POST in the beta-alanine group only (+91.1% +/- 29.1%; placebo, +0.04% +/- 10.1%; P < 0.0001). M-Carn started to decrease after cessation of beta-alanine supplementation and continued to decrease until week 16 (POST4, +59% +/- 40%; POST8, +35% +/- 39%; POST12, +18% +/- 32%; POST16, -3% +/- 24% of PRE M-Carn). From week 12 onward, M-Carn was no longer statistically different from PRE. Both linear and exponential models displayed very similar fit and could be used to describe carnosine washout, although the linear model presented a slightly better fit. The decay in M-Carn was mirrored by a similar decay in high-intensity exercise tolerance; M-Carn was moderately and significantly correlated with total mechanical work done (r = 0.505; P = 0.032) and time to exhaustion (r = 0.72; P < 0.001). Conclusions Carnosine washout takes 12-16 wk to complete, and it can be described either by linear or exponential curves. Changes in M-Carn seem to be mirrored by changes in high-intensity exercise tolerance. This information can be used to optimize beta-alanine supplementation strategies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07937-8 - Redoxome - Redox Processes in Biomedicine
• Grantee: Ohara Augusto
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 17/13552-2 - Reducing sedentary time in clinical populations: the take a stand for health study
• Grantee: Bruno Gualano
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/25032-9 - The role of carnosine on Ca2+ handling, control of oxidative stress and protection against protein glycation: advances and applications of the study life without carnosine
• Grantee: Hamilton Augusto Roschel da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11948-8 - Life without carnosine: development and characterization of a KO rat model for studying the physiological role of carnosine and its implications to physical exercise and muscle metabolism
• Grantee: Guilherme Giannini Artioli
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/14746-4 - Carnosine metabolism in skeletal muscle: a multi-approach study
• Grantee: Bruno Gualano
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants