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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 43 · 2024

5 results

Carnosine supplementation improves glucose control in adults with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial.

Hariharan R, Cameron J, Menon K, Mesinovic J, Jansons P, Scott D, Lu ZX, de Courten M, Feehan J, de Courten B

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD14 Oct 2023Cited by 27 (Europe PMC)

PMID38172006 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.numecd.2023.10.012 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-38172006
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

Background and aimsType 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-glycating effects, with preliminary evidence suggesting it may improve important chronic disease risk factors in adults with cardiometabolic conditions.Methods and resultsIn this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Secondary outcomes included body composition analysis by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), calf muscle density by pQCT, and anthropometry. Carnosine supplementation decreased blood glucose at 90 min (-1.31 mmol/L; p = 0.02) and 120 min (-1.60 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and total glucose area under the curve (-3.30 mmol/L; p = 0.04) following an oral glucose tolerance test. There were no additional changes in secondary outcomes. The carnosine group results remained significant before and after adjustment for age, sex, and change in weight (all>0.05), and in further sensitivity analyses accounting for missing data. There were no significant changes in insulin levels.ConclusionThis study provides preliminary support for larger trials evaluating carnosine as a potential treatment for prediabetes and the initial stages of T2DM. Likely mechanisms may include changes to hepatic glucose output explaining the observed reduction in blood glucose without changes in insulin secretion following carnosine supplementation.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine produced no additional changes in secondary body composition, muscle density and anthropometry outcomes.

    In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change secondary outcomes compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    No significant changeSecondary outcomes
    Study

    n = 43

    Comparator
    Matching placebo
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Body composition · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    2 g daily · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There were no additional changes in secondary outcomes.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Secondary outcomes included body composition analysis by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), calf muscle density by pQCT, and anthropometry.
    Summary · context
    In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine decreased blood glucose at 90 min during an oral glucose tolerance test.

    In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine lowered glucose at 90 minutes compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    DecreaseBlood glucose at 90 minutes
    Study

    n = 43

    Comparator
    Matching placebo
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    2 g daily · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Blood glucose difference
    −1.31 mmol/L
    90 min
    p
    0.02
    90 min

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Carnosine supplementation decreased blood glucose at 90 min (-1.31 mmol/L; p = 0.02) and 120 min (-1.60 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and total glucose area under the curve (-3.30 mmol/L; p = 0.04) following an oral glucose tolerance test.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine decreased blood glucose at 120 min during an oral glucose tolerance test.

    In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine lowered glucose at 120 minutes compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    DecreaseBlood glucose at 120 minutes
    Study

    n = 43

    Comparator
    Matching placebo
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    2 g daily · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Blood glucose difference
    −1.6 mmol/L
    120 min
    p
    0.02
    120 min

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Carnosine supplementation decreased blood glucose at 90 min (-1.31 mmol/L; p = 0.02) and 120 min (-1.60 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and total glucose area under the curve (-3.30 mmol/L; p = 0.04) following an oral glucose tolerance test.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine decreased total glucose area under the curve during an oral glucose tolerance test.

    In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine lowered glucose exposure during the glucose test compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    DecreaseTotal glucose area under the curve
    Study

    n = 43

    Comparator
    Matching placebo
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    2 g daily · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Total glucose area under the curve difference
    −3.3 mmol/L
    p
    0.04

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Carnosine supplementation decreased blood glucose at 90 min (-1.31 mmol/L; p = 0.02) and 120 min (-1.60 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and total glucose area under the curve (-3.30 mmol/L; p = 0.04) following an oral glucose tolerance test.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with prediabetes or T2DM, carnosine did not significantly change insulin levels.

    In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not significantly change insulin levels compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    L-carnosine
    Outcome
    No significant changeInsulin levels
    Study

    n = 43

    Comparator
    Matching placebo
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    2 g daily · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There were no significant changes in insulin levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.

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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