Exercise alters and β-alanine combined with exercise augments histidyl dipeptide levels and scavenges lipid peroxidation products in human skeletal muscle

Carnosine and anserine are dipeptides synthesized from histidine and β-alanine by carnosine synthase (ATPGD1). These dipeptides, present in high concentration in the skeletal muscle, form conjugates with lipid peroxidation products such as 4-hydroxy trans-2-nonenal (HNE). Although skeletal muscle levels of these dipeptides could be elevated by feeding β-alanine, it is unclear how these dipeptides and their conjugates are affected by exercise training with or without β-alanine supplementation. We recruited 20 physically active men, who were allocated to either β-alanine or placebo-feeding group matched for peak oxygen consumption, lactate threshold, and maximal power. Participants completed 2 wk of a conditioning phase followed by 1 wk of exercise training, a single session of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), followed by 6 wk of HIIT. Analysis of muscle biopsies showed that the levels of carnosine and ATPGD1 expression were increased after CPET and decreased following a single session and 6 wk of HIIT. Expression of ATPGD1 and levels of carnosine were increased upon β-alanine-feeding after CPET, whereas ATPGD1 expression decreased following a single session of HIIT. The expression of fiber type markers myosin heavy chain I and IIa remained unchanged after CPET. Levels of carnosine, anserine, carnosine-HNE, carnosine-propanal, and carnosine-propanol were further increased after 9 wk of β-alanine supplementation and exercise training but remained unchanged in the placebo-fed group. These results suggest that carnosine levels and ATPGD1 expression fluctuates with different phases of training. Enhancing carnosine levels by β-alanine feeding could facilitate the detoxification of lipid peroxidation products in the human skeletal muscle. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Carnosine synthase expression and carnosine levels are altered in the human skeletal muscle during different phases of training. During high-intensity interval training, β-alanine feeding promotes detoxification of lipid peroxidation products and increases anserine levels in the skeletal muscle.