The absorption of orally supplied beta-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis.
Beta-alanine in blood-plasma when administered as A) histidine dipeptides (equivalent to 40 mg . kg(-1) bwt of beta-alanine) in chicken broth, or B) 10, C) 20 and D) 40 mg . kg(-1) bwt beta-alanine (CarnoSyn, NAI, USA), peaked at 428 +/- SE 66, 47 +/- 13, 374 +/- 68 and 833 +/- 43 microM. Concentrations regained baseline at 2 h. Carnosine was not detected in plasma with A) although traces of this and anserine were found in urine. Loss of beta-alanine in urine with B) to D) was <5%. Plasma taurine was increased by beta-alanine ingestion but this did not result in any increased loss via urine. Pharmacodynamics were further investigated with 3 x B) per day given for 15 d. Dietary supplementation with I) 3.2 and II) 6.4 g . d(-1) beta-alanine (as multiple doses of 400 or 800 mg) or III) L-carnosine (isomolar to II) for 4 w resulted in significant increases in muscle carnosine estimated at 42.1, 64.2 and 65.8%.
School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, University College Chichester, West Sussex, Chichester, UK. r.harris@ucc.ac.uk
R C
RC
Harris
M J
MJ
Tallon
M
M
Dunnett
L
L
Boobis
J
J
Coakley
H J
HJ
Kim
J L
JL
Fallowfield
C A
CA
Hill
C
C
Sale
J A
JA
Wise
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002336:Carnosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D004151:Dipeptides; D015091:beta-Alanine; D013654:Taurine; D002336:Carnosine