A Comparative Biochemical Study Between L-Carnosine and β-Alanine in Amelioration of Hypobaric Hypoxia-Induced Skeletal Muscle Protein Loss

Rathor, Richa, Sukanya Srivastava, and Geetha Suryakumar. A comparative biochemical study between L-carnosine and beta-alanine in amelioration of hypobaric hypoxia-induced skeletal muscle protein loss. High Alt Med Biol 00:000-000, 2023.Background: Carnosine (CAR; beta-alanyl-L-histidine), a biologically active dipeptide is known for its unique pH-buffering capacity, metal chelating activity, and antioxidant and antiglycation property. beta-Alanine (ALA) is a nonessential amino acid and used to enhance performance and cognitive functions. Hypobaric hypoxia (HH)-induced muscle protein loss is regulated by multifaceted signaling pathways. The present study investigated the beneficial effects of CAR and ALA against HH-associated muscle loss.Methodology: Simulated HH exposure was performed in an animal decompression chamber. Gastric oral administration of CAR (50 mg center dot kg-1) and ALA (450 mg center dot kg-1) were given daily for 3 days and at the end of the treatment, hindlimb skeletal muscle tissue was excised for western blot and biochemical assays.Results: Cosupplementation of CAR and ALA alone was able to ameliorate the hypoxia-induced inflammation, oxidative stress (FOXO), ER stress (GRP-78), and atrophic signaling (MuRF-1) in the skeletal muscles. Creatinine phospho kinase activity and apoptosis were also decreased in CAR- and ALA-supplemented rats. However, CAR showed enhanced protection in HH-induced muscle loss as CAR supplementation was able to enhance protein concentration, body weight, and decreased the protein oxidation and ALA administration was not able to restore the same.Conclusions: Hence, the present comprehensive study supports the fact that CAR (50 mg center dot kg-1) is more beneficial as compared with ALA (450 mg center dot kg-1) in ameliorating the hypoxia-induced skeletal muscle loss.