Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25875297›Full record

ArticlePloS one2015

Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal and cognitive function: an exploratory study.

Marina Yazigi Solis, Simon Cooper, Ruth M Hobson, Guilherme G Artioli, Maria C Otaduy, Hamilton Roschel, Jacques Robertson, Daniel Martin, Vitor S Painelli, Roger C Harris and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Carnosine supplementation improves cognitive outcomes in younger participants of the NEAT trial.Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2025
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  11. The Possible Roles ofCurrent medicinal chemistry · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Marina Yazigi SolisSchool of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-030, Brazil.
Simon CooperBiomedical, Life and Health Sciences Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
Ruth M HobsonBiomedical, Life and Health Sciences Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
Guilherme G ArtioliSchool of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-030, Brazil.
Maria C OtaduyLIM44, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05403-900, Brazil.
Hamilton RoschelSchool of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-030, Brazil.
Jacques RobertsonBiomedical, Life and Health Sciences Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
Daniel MartinBiomedical, Life and Health Sciences Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
Vitor S PainelliSchool of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-030, Brazil.
Roger C HarrisJunipa Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Bruno GualanoSchool of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-030, Brazil.
Craig SaleBiomedical, Life and Health Sciences Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTwo independent studies were conducted to examine the effects of 28 d of beta-alanine supplementation at 6.4 g d(-1) on brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal in omnivores and vegetarians (Study 1) and on cognitive function before and after exercise in trained cyclists (Study 2).

methodsIn Study 1, seven healthy vegetarians (3 women and 4 men) and seven age- and sex-matched omnivores undertook a brain 1H-MRS exam at baseline and after beta-alanine supplementation. In study 2, nineteen trained male cyclists completed four 20-Km cycling time trials (two pre supplementation and two post supplementation), with a battery of cognitive function tests (Stroop test, Sternberg paradigm, Rapid Visual Information Processing task) being performed before and after exercise on each occasion.

resultsIn Study 1, there were no within-group effects of beta-alanine supplementation on brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal in either vegetarians (p = 0.99) or omnivores (p = 0.27); nor was there any effect when data from both groups were pooled (p = 0.19). Similarly, there was no group by time interaction for brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal (p = 0.27). In study 2, exercise improved cognitive function across all tests (P < 0.05), although there was no effect (P>0.05) of beta-alanine supplementation on response times or accuracy for the Stroop test, Sternberg paradigm or RVIP task at rest or after exercise.

conclusion28 d of beta-alanine supplementation at 6.4 g d(-1) appeared not to influence brain homocarnosine/carnosine signal in either omnivores or vegetarians; nor did it influence cognitive function before or after exercise in trained cyclists.

Indexed as

AdultAthletesbeta-AlanineBrainCarnosineCognitionDietary SupplementsExerciseFemaleHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalSignal Transductionbeta-AlanineCarnosine

Identifiers

PMID25875297
PMCPMC4397072

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.