Effects of Carnosine and Beta-Alanine Ingestion on Anaerobic Sprint Performance and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Interleukin-6 and -10 Gene Expression

Pietro Luigi Invernizzi, Bruno Venerando, Francesco Di Pierro, Sandro Saronni, Nadia Papini

Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
School of Sports Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Velleja Research, Pontenure, Piacenza, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/ape.2013.34032                

Abstract

Chronic administration of β-alanine has been shown to increase muscle carnosine content and improve anaerobic performance. It is not clear whether acute ingestion of carnosine and beta alanine may have the same effects. With a view to investigating acute effects of carnosine and β-alanine ingestion on anaerobic intermittent running performance and on the responses of Interleukin-6 and -10 to exercise, twelve healthy, young, active participants (age: 21 ± 4 years) underwent the running-based anaerobic test (RAST) twice (with 30 min recovery in between) on two separate occasions (randomized, crossover design). The test consisted of 6 × 35-m sprints interspersed with 10 s rests after acute ingestion (4 hours before the test) of either 2 g L-carnosine + 2 g β-alanine or placebo. The overall performance decreased (RAST1 vs RAST2, carnosine + β-alanine: 32.8 ± 1.3 s, 33.4 ± 1.2 s; Placebo: 32.9 ± 1.0 s, 33.6 ± 1.2 s), pain after RASTs increased (RAST1 vs RAST2, carnosine + β-alanine: 3.0 ± 2.1 a.u., 4.2 ± 1.9 a.u.; Placebo: 3.0 ± 1.8 a.u., 3.4 ± 1.2 a.u.) almost in the same way in both groups, and RPE did not show any difference. IL6 and IL10 gene expression increased and decreased respectively in response to exercise in the same fashion in both conditions. During RAST 2 we found a potentially increased performance in the carnosine + β-alanine group (main effect of condition, p < 0.05). In conclusion these findings suggest that acute administration of carnosine + β-alanine does not influence the cytokine response to exercise but might have a very small enhancing effect on anaerobic sprint performance.

Keywords

Running; Supplementation; Cytokines

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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