Acute preexercise supplementation of combined carnosine and anserine enhances initial maximal power of Wingate tests in humans

Abstract

Classic in vitro experiments (Severin's phenomenon) demonstrated that acute carnosine supplementation may potentiate muscle contractility. However, upon oral ingestion, carnosine is readily degraded in human plasma by the highly active serum carnosinase-1 (CN1). We developed a novel strategy to circumvent CN1 by pre-exercise ingestion of combined carnosine (CARN) and anserine (ANS), the methylated analog with similar biochemical properties but more resistant to CN1. First, in vitro hydrolysis was tested by adding carnosine and anserine to human plasma, alone or in combination. Secondly, 5 subjects were supplemented with 25mg/kg anserine or 25mg/kg of each anserine and carnosine to test in vivo bioavailability. Thirdly, two double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies investigated the effect of pre-exercise ANS+CARN (20mg/kg BW of each) supplementation on performance during a single all-out Wingate test following 6-minute high-intensity cycling (study A) or 3 repeated Wingate tests (study B). In vitro experiments demonstrated slower degradation of anserine vs carnosine, which was further slowed by simultaneously adding carnosine. In vivo bioavailability of plasma anserine was more prominent (2.5-fold increased AUC) when ANS+CARN vs ANS was ingested. Study A showed significantly higher (+6±11%; p=0.04) power in the first 5s of the Wingate test following ANS+CARN (12.8±2.4W/kg) vs placebo (12.1±2.2W/kg). Study B demonstrated increased peak power (+3%) throughout 3 consecutive Wingate tests (ANS+CARN 10.5±0.6W/kg vs placebo 10.2±9.9W/kg). These experiments reveal a novel acute nutritional method to effectively raise plasma anserine and carnosine by high-dose combined supplementation. This approach led to improved initial cycling power, revealing a new nutritional strategy to increase exercise performance.

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

“…Despite the observed improvements in performance in several studies [ 13 , 15 , 16 ], no differences were found in plasma lactate concentration, pH, bicarbonate concentration, and glutathione as oxidative stress marker. This indicates that the benefits currently can not be attributed to the buffering or antioxidant effect of HCD, which are usually described as their main functions [ 17 ].…”

“…Higher doses up to 60 mg.kg −1 BM are still only partially effective in inducing carnosinemia, and can be prone to side-effects like headache [ 11 , 26 ] and were therefore not tested for exercise performance. Addition of ANS to the CAR supplement seems more preferable, as ANS is more resistant to degradation by CN1 [ 10 ] and additionally stabilizes co-ingested CAR by competitive inhibition to CN1 [ 12 , 13 ]. The currently used ratio of 1:1 CAR:ANS seems to be a valid ergogenic approach.…”

“…It is known that the affinity of CN1 toward ANS is, in comparison to CAR, lower due to the methylation of the imidazole-ring, resulting in a delay in breakdown of the dipeptide upon oral ingestion [ 8–12 ]. Indeed, an in vivo pharmacokinetic experiment showed that the combined ingestion of both dipeptides increases plasma accumulation of ANS beyond the level measured following ANS ingestion without CAR [ 13 ].…”

Dipeptide Extract Modulates the Oxi-Antioxidant Response to Intense Physical Exercise

“…Its use has been shown to increase muscle carnosine content [11] and to improve high-intensity endurance performance through the attenuation of muscle fatigue and also the enhancement of post-exercise muscle regeneration [12]. The ergogenic potential of the pre-exercise intake of chicken extracts (containing both carnosine and anserine) has already been tested [11,13]. Suzuki et al [11] showed that CBE, containing 0.4 g carnosine and 1.1 g anserine, enhanced the power output of the latter of two sets of repeated sprints.…”

“…Suzuki et al [11] showed that CBE, containing 0.4 g carnosine and 1.1 g anserine, enhanced the power output of the latter of two sets of repeated sprints. Blancquaert et al [13] reported that markers of maximal exercise and muscle power during the initial stage of the Wingate test were significantly improved by pre-exercise 20-25 mg/kg of anserine and carnosine supplementation. So far, little is known on dipeptide intake in combination with intense physical exercise or on their influence on the oxi-inflammatory response [14][15][16][17].…”