title: Influence of l-carnosine on pro-antioxidant status in elite kayakers and canoeists.
abstract: Carnosine is a dipeptide formed from the amino acids β-alanine and histidine and found in large amounts in the brain and muscle, especially fast twitch muscle. Carnosine has an antioxidant role and accounts for about 10% of the muscle's ability to buffer the H+ ions produced by high intensity exercise. Due to the interesting role of carnosine, the aim of the study was observe the effects of carnosine intake on pro-antioxidant status in highly trained athletes exposed to intense exercise.Fourteen male athletes from the Polish national kayak and canoe teams participated in placebo-controlled and cross-over study. The athletes were supplemented with 4 g/d carnosine for 14 days. Blood samples were collected before and 30 min, 24 h and 48 h after 2000 m exercise trial. In blood, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), markers of RO/NS activity 8-isoprostanes and 3-nitrotyrosine, total (GSHt) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG), antioxidant status (APO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined. There were not observed statistically significant differences in exercise-induced changes in H2O2 and NO concentrations and SOD activity after carnosine intake. However, carnosine prevented an increase in 8-isoprostanes, 3-nitrotyrosine and GSSG concentrations as well as elevated redox status (GSHt-2GSSG)/GSSG at post-exercise period.Although, oral supplementation with 4 g carnosine did not affect RO/NS generation, it significantly attenuated exercise-induced glutathione loss, reduced oxidation/nitration markers concentration and SOD activity. These results suggest that carnosine could provide antioxidative protection for highly trained athletes.
authors.affiliation: University School of Physical Education Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition Paderewski Avenue 35 51-612 Wroclaw Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slowinska-Lisowska
authors.affiliation: University of Zielona Gora Department of Physical Education Zielona Gora Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zembron-Lacny
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Centre Znak-Test Gorzow Wielkopolski Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rynkiewicz
authors.affiliation: University School of Physical Education Poznan Poland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rynkiewicz
authors.affiliation: University of Environmental and Life Sciences Wroclaw Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kopec
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056352:Athletes; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002336:Carnosine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011044:Poland; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D002336:Carnosine; D015237:Dinoprost; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: exercise; glutathione; hydrogen peroxide; nitric oxide; oxidative damage