The Effect of Carnosine Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health in Adults with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Saadati S, Jansons P, Scott D, de Courten M, Mousa A, Feehan J, Mesinovic J, de Courten B

Nutrients15 Dec 2024Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID39770949PMCIDPMC11677094DOI10.3390/nu16244328PepBankPUB-39770949

Summary

Background/objectivesType 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of adverse musculoskeletal outcomes likely due to heightened chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and advanced glycation end-products (AGE). Carnosine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-AGE properties. However, no clinical trials have examined the impact of carnosine on musculoskeletal health in adults with prediabetes or T2D.MethodsIn a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks. Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition, and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was used to assess bone health at the distal and proximal tibia.ResultsForty-three participants completed this study. Carnosine supplementation had no effect on change in hand grip strength (HGS) or upper-limb relative strength (HGS/lean mass) versus placebo. Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo. Fourteen weeks of carnosine supplementation did not improve muscle strength, body composition, or bone health in adults with prediabetes or T2D.ConclusionsCarnosine supplementation may not be an effective approach for improving musculoskeletal health in adults with prediabetes and T2D without musculoskeletal conditions. However, appropriately powered trials with longer duration are warranted to confirm our findings. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02917928).

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. 8 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, carnosine did not change hand grip strength compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change hand grip strength compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeHand grip strength
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Carnosine supplementation had no effect on change in hand grip strength (HGS) or upper-limb relative strength (HGS/lean mass) versus placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094901
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, carnosine did not change upper-limb relative strength compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change relative arm strength compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeUpper-limb relative strength
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Carnosine supplementation had no effect on change in hand grip strength (HGS) or upper-limb relative strength (HGS/lean mass) versus placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094902
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, appendicular lean mass changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change limb lean mass compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeAppendicular lean mass
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Body composition · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094903
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, body fat percentage changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change body fat percentage compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeBody fat percentage
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Body composition · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094904
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, visceral fat area changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change visceral fat area compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeVisceral fat area
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Body composition · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094905
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, proximal tibial cortical bone density changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change upper tibial cortical bone density compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeProximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094906
07HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, distal tibial trabecular bone density changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change lower tibial trabecular bone density compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeDistal tibial trabecular volumetric bone mineral density
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094907
08HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with prediabetes or T2D, stress-strain index changes did not differ between carnosine and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with prediabetes or diabetes, carnosine did not change the bone stress-strain index compared with placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeStress-strain index
Study
n = 43
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2 g/day · 14 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Change in appendicular lean mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat area, proximal tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), distal tibial trabecular vBMD, and stress-strain index did not differ with carnosine compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 49 participants with prediabetes or T2D and without existing musculoskeletal conditions were assigned to receive either 2 g/day carnosine or matching placebo for 14 weeks.
Summary · context
Forty-three participants completed this study.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3977094908

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

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

Status unknownPhase 2NCT02917928

The Potential of Carnosine Supplementation in Optimising Cardiometabolic Health

Monash Universityn = 40Oct 2016 to est. Jul 2023

Poor Glycemic Control · Cardiovascular Risk Factors · Cognitive Function 1, Social

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 28 Jun 2022

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.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
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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