The present study examined the effect of the long-term intake of chicken breast extract (CBEX), which contains carnosine and anserine, on carnosine content in skeletal muscles of humans and on short-period exercise performance with high intensity.
Before and after CBEX was orally given to 13 healthy male subjects for 30 days, pieces of their muscle (M. vastus lateralis) were excised and carnosine concentration in the muscle was measured. Before and after the test period, the subjects exercise performance (mean and peak power body weight) was determined by pedaling for 30 sec. On the basis of baseline concentrations of carnosine, the subjects were classified into two groups: low (n=8) and high (n=5) carnosine-baseline groups. In the former group, intake of CBEX increased carnosine concentration in the muscle (p<0.05), resulting in significant correlation between increased rate of carnosine concentration and mean power. These results suggest that exercise performance depends on carnosine concentration in the muscle, and that taking carnosine-containing foods may improve exercise performance.