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Study · Not a test of the peptide alone · 2022

6 results

The ergogenic effect of acute carnosine and anserine supplementation: dosing, timing, and underlying mechanism.

de Jager S, Blancquaert L, Van der Stede T, Lievens E, De Baere S, Croubels S, Gilardoni E, Regazzoni LG, Aldini G, Bourgois JG, Derave W

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition26 Mar 2022Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID35599917 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC9116398 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1080/15502783.2022.2053300 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-35599917
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Summary

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that acute-combined carnosine and anserine supplementation has the potential to improve the performance of certain cycling protocols. Yet, data on optimal dose, timing of ingestion, effective exercise range, and mode of action are lacking. Three studies were conducted to establish dosing and timing guidelines concerning carnosine and anserine intake and to unravel the mechanism underlying the ergogenic effects.MethodsFirst, a dose response study A was conducted in which 11 men randomly received placebo, 10, 20, or 30 mg.kg-1 of both carnosine and anserine. They performed 3x maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC), followed by a 5 x 6 s repeated cycling sprint ability test (RSA), once before the supplement and 30 and 60 minutes after. In a second study, 15 men performed 3x MVCs with femoral nerve electrical stimulation, followed by an RSA test, once before 30 mg.kg-1 carnosine and anserine and 60 minutes after. Finally, in study C, eight men performed a high intensity cycling training after randomly ingesting 30 mg.kg-1 of carnosine and anserine, a placebo or antihistamines (reduce post-exercise blood flow) to investigate effects on muscle perfusion.ResultsStudy A showed a 3% peak power (p = 0.0005; 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.27; ES = 0.91) and 4.5% peak torque (p = 0.0006; 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.50; ES = 0.87) improvement on RSA and MVC, with 30 mg.kg-1 carnosine + anserine ingestion 60 minutes before the performance yielding the best results. Study B found no performance improvement on group level; however, a negative correlation (r = -0.54; p = 0.0053; 95% CI = -0.77 to -0.19) was found between carnosinase enzyme activity (responsible for carnosine and anserine breakdown) and performance improvement. No effect of the supplement on neuromuscular function nor on muscle perfusion was found.ConclusionsThese studies reveal that acute ingestion of 30 mg.kg-1 of both carnosine and anserine, 60 minutes before a high intensity exercise, can potentially improve performance, such as short cycling sprints or maximal muscle contractions. Subjects with lower carnosinase activity, and thus a slower breakdown of circulating dipeptides, appear to benefit more from this ergogenic effect. Finally, neither the involvement of a direct effect on neuromuscular function, nor an indirect effect on recovery through increased muscle perfusion could be confirmed as potential mechanism of action. The ergogenic mechanism therefore remains elusive.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone6

In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

  1. 01HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In men in study A, combined carnosine and anserine improved repeated sprint peak power by 3%.

    In plain wordsIn men, combined carnosine and anserine improved repeated cycling sprint peak power by 3%.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    IncreaseRepeated cycling sprint peak power
    Study

    n = 11

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal

    Measurements

    Peak power improvement
    3%
    Study A, carnosine + anserine
    Effect size (ES)
    0.91
    Study A, peak power

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Study A showed a 3% peak power (p = 0.0005; 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.27; ES = 0.91) and 4.5% peak torque (p = 0.0006; 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.50; ES = 0.87) improvement on RSA and MVC
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    First, a dose response study A was conducted in which 11 men randomly received placebo, 10, 20, or 30 mg.kg-1 of both carnosine and anserine.

    In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

  2. 02HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In men in study A, combined carnosine and anserine improved peak torque by 4.5%.

    In plain wordsIn men, combined carnosine and anserine improved maximal contraction peak torque by 4.5%.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    IncreaseMaximal voluntary contraction peak torque
    Study

    n = 11

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal

    Measurements

    Peak torque improvement
    4.5%
    Study A, carnosine + anserine
    Effect size (ES)
    0.87
    Study A, peak torque

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Study A showed a 3% peak power (p = 0.0005; 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.27; ES = 0.91) and 4.5% peak torque (p = 0.0006; 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.50; ES = 0.87) improvement on RSA and MVC
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    First, a dose response study A was conducted in which 11 men randomly received placebo, 10, 20, or 30 mg.kg-1 of both carnosine and anserine.

    In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

  3. 03HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In men, the carnosine and anserine supplement did not affect muscle perfusion.

    In plain wordsIn men, the carnosine and anserine supplement did not affect muscle blood flow.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    No significant changeMuscle perfusion
    Study

    n = 8

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No effect of the supplement on neuromuscular function nor on muscle perfusion was found.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Finally, in study C, eight men performed a high intensity cycling training after randomly ingesting 30 mg.kg-1 of carnosine and anserine, a placebo or antihistamines (reduce post-exercise blood flow) to investigate effects on muscle perfusion.

    In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

  4. 04HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In men in study B, combined carnosine and anserine did not improve performance at group level.

    In plain wordsIn men, combined carnosine and anserine did not improve performance at group level.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    No significant changePerformance in study B
    Study

    n = 15

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Study B found no performance improvement on group level
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a second study, 15 men performed 3x MVCs with femoral nerve electrical stimulation, followed by an RSA test, once before 30 mg.kg-1 carnosine and anserine and 60 minutes after.

    In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

  5. 05HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialMechanism

    In 15 men in study B, combined carnosine and anserine did not affect neuromuscular function after supplementation.

    In plain wordsIn men in study B, combined carnosine and anserine did not affect neuromuscular function compared with before supplementation.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    No significant changeNeuromuscular function
    Study

    n = 15

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No effect of the supplement on neuromuscular function nor on muscle perfusion was found.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a second study, 15 men performed 3x MVCs with femoral nerve electrical stimulation, followed by an RSA test, once before 30 mg.kg-1 carnosine and anserine and 60 minutes after.

    In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

  6. 06HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneObservational studyMechanism

    In men in study B, carnosinase activity negatively correlated with performance improvement after combined carnosine and anserine (r = -0.54).

    In plain wordsIn men, lower carnosinase activity was linked to greater performance improvement after combined carnosine and anserine.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    DecreaseCarnosinase activity and performance improvement
    Study

    n = 15

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal

    Measurements

    Correlation coefficient (r)
    −0.54
    Carnosinase activity versus performance improvement, study B

    Source sentences

    Summary
    however, a negative correlation (r = -0.54; p = 0.0053; 95% CI = -0.77 to -0.19) was found between carnosinase enzyme activity (responsible for carnosine and anserine breakdown) and performance improvement.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a second study, 15 men performed 3x MVCs with femoral nerve electrical stimulation, followed by an RSA test, once before 30 mg.kg-1 carnosine and anserine and 60 minutes after.

    In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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