Cited by 140Biochemical effects in animalsMuscle metabolism and nutritionMeat and Animal Product Quality

Vegetarianism, female gender and increasing age, but not CNDP1 genotype, are associated with reduced muscle carnosine levels in humans

Everaert, Inge, Mooyaart, Antien, Baguet, Audrey, Zutinic, Ana, Baelde, Hans, Achten, Eric, Taes, Youri, De Heer, Emile +1 more·2011·Amino Acids

Abstract

Carnosine is found in high concentrations in skeletal muscles, where it is involved in several physiological functions. The muscle carnosine content measured within a population can vary by a factor 4. The aim of this study was to further characterize suggested determinants of the muscle carnosine content (diet, gender and age) and to identify new determinants (plasma carnosinase activity and testosterone). We investigated a group of 149 healthy subjects, which consisted of 94 men (12 vegetarians) and 55 women. Muscle carnosine was quantified in M. soleus, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior using magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy and blood samples were collected to determine CNDP1 genotype, plasma carnosinase activity and testosterone concentrations. Compared to women, men have 36, 28 and 82% higher carnosine concentrations in M. soleus, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle, respectively, whereas circulating testosterone concentrations were unrelated to muscle carnosine levels in healthy men. The carnosine content of the M. soleus is negatively related to the subjects' age. Vegetarians have a lower carnosine content of 26% in gastrocnemius compared to omnivores. In contrast, there is no difference in muscle carnosine content between omnivores with a high or low ingestion of β-alanine. Muscle carnosine levels are not related to the polymorphism of the CNDP1 gene or to the enzymatic activity of the plasma carnosinase. In conclusion, neither CNDP1 genotype nor the normal variation in circulating testosterone levels affects the muscular carnosine content, whereas vegetarianism, female gender and increasing age are the factors associated with reduced muscle carnosine stores.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00726-010-0749-2

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  • Vegetarians have lower muscle carnosine contents compared with omnivorous individuals.

    “Given the tight link between β-alanine intake and muscle carnosine content, it is no surprise that vegetarians have lower muscle carnosine contents compared with omnivorous individuals [219,220].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [220]

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Authors
Everaert, I., Mooyaart, A., Baguet, A., Zutinic, A., Baelde, H., Achten, E., Taes, Y., De Heer, E., & Derave, W.
Affiliations
  • Ghent University (BE)
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
  • Ghent University Hospital (BE)
Corresponding author
Derave, Wim
Venue
Amino Acids
Published
2010-09-24
Volume
40
Issue
4
Pages
1221-1229
ISSN
  • 0939-4451 (ISSN-L)
  • 1438-2199
OpenAlex
W2009003477
Cited by
140
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
FWCI
4.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Amino Acids (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biochemical effects in animals
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Meat and Animal Product Quality
Keywords
muscle carnosine, vegetarian diet, sex differences, aging, testosterone, skeletal muscle, soleus muscle, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Carnosine, Diet, Dipeptidases, Female, Genotype, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscles, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Polymorphism, Genetic, Sex Factors, Testosterone, Diet, Vegetarian, beta-Alanine, Gene Expression, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Dietary Supplements, Young Adult

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